Wynn NYC Casino Could Threaten Small Businesses, Say Owners

Posted on: March 3, 2025, 05:16h. 

Last updated on: March 4, 2025, 09:39h.

Todd Shriber @etfgodfather Read More
Expertise: Financial, Gaming Business, Mergers and Acquisitions.
  • Business owners worry about impact of casino in Hudson Yards
  • Related Cos. and Wynn want license for Chelsea-area casino hotel

Small business owners in New York City’s Hudson Yards area, which includes the tony Chelsea neighborhood, are fearful that a proposed casino hotel would hurt their bottom lines.

Wynn New York City Hudson Yards Related Companies
Renderings of Hudson Yards West. Some small business owners oppose the idea of a Wynn casino there. (Image: Related Companies)

As part of an expansion effort of the Western Rail Yards, Related Cos. — the developer of Hudson Yards — is partnering with Wynn Resorts to potentially bring a casino resort to the area. That proposal, which hasn’t yet been approved, has met with consistent opposition. Now, some local entrepreneurs are saying they want no part of a gaming venue in their area.

We share the desire for development and economic growth. But this project, in its current form, is a direct threat to the small businesses that make Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen unique,” wrote Fathy Rady and Robert Sanfiz in an op-ed for AMNY.

Rady runs a Halal cart in Chelsea while Sanfiz is the proprietor of La Nacional, a Spanish restaurant located on 14th Street.

Hudson Yards Biz Owners Not Opposed to NYC Casinos

In a familiar refrain regarding some of the approximately 10 bids for the trio of downstate casino licenses, Rady and Sanfiz noted they aren’t opposed to New York City being home to gaming venues. They simply don’t want those establishments in their neighborhood.

“Some other casino proposals actually incentivize guests to explore food restaurants and vendors in their surrounding areas. That’s helping small business, not hurting it,” wrote the business owners.

They didn’t mention specifics in terms of which proposals, if passed, would incentivize guests to patronize area small businesses, but one that comes to mind is the Times Square casino pitch. That effort is led by Caesars Entertainment, real estate developer SL Green, and Roc Nation, the entertainment agency controlled by rapper Jay-Z.

Two years ago, the consortium announced that if the venue is approved, Caesars Rewards — one of the gaming industry’s largest loyalty programs — would be leveraged to spur business for “participating hotels, restaurants, retailers, comedy clubs, entertainment venues and more across New York.”

Rady and Sanfiz believe the Wynn casino, if approved, could undo much of the progress Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen have made since the coronavirus pandemic.

“We still feel the lingering impacts of the pandemic, and we’re working hard to recover. This casino development could undo much of that progress,” they wrote in AMNY. “The loss of potential customers from the reduced residential development, combined with the casino’s self-contained ecosystem, would be devastating for many of us.”

Owners Encourage Activism

Whether it’s been by way of business owners or groups such as Protect The High Line, opposition to the Related/Wynn plan has been peaceful yet vocal, and has generated some dividends.

For example, Manhattan Community Board 4 (MCB4), the community board representing the area including Hudson Yards, said it doesn’t support the casino. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine recently expressed similar dissent.

However, the City Council and Mayor Eric Adams (D) could proclaim Hudson Yards is an ideal location for a casino hotel. If that happens, the Related/Wynn project could rise in the New York Gaming Facility Location Board’s rankings of potential casino locations. That board will submit prospective locations to the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), which has the final say on the matter.

In the meantime, Rady and Sanfiz encouraged fellow business owners and neighbors to remain vigilant in their opposition to the Hudson Yards casino plan.

“We need to make the voices of small businesses heard through letters, social media, and by testifying at public hearings,” they wrote. “We must demonstrate to our city leaders that this plan will hurt, not help, our community. Let’s work together to ensure that development benefits everyone, not just the developers.”