Category: Business

The general manager of the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, Bob Sheldon, is moving to a new position as president of Las Vegas operations for Penn National Gaming.

The promotion was mentioned at today’s Kansas Lottery Commission meeting.

According to lottery officials, Penn National Gaming, one of the parent companies of the Hollywood Casino, is in the process of purchasing the Tropicana in Las Vegas. Lottery officials said they were very happy for Sheldon.

Sheldon has been vice president and general manager of the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway since it opened.

In a news release today, Penn National Gaming announced Sheldon’s appointment as president of Las Vegas operations effective July 6.

He will oversee the operations of the Tropicana Las Vegas following the completion of the company’s acquisition of the property, located on the Las Vegas strip, the news release stated. The acquisition is expected to be completed later this year, according to the news release. Penn also owns the M Resort in Las Vegas.

A search for Sheldon’s replacement at the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway is currently underway, the news release stated. The Hollywood Casino is jointly owned by Penn National Gaming and the International Speedway Corp.

A Penn National Gaming officials, Jay Snowden, chief operating officer, stated in the news release that Sheldon is excited to be returning to his professional roots in Las Vegas, where he began his career at the Las Vegas Hilton and later managed the Mirage Resorts organization, including president of the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino.

“He has a deep knowledge of not only the Las Vegas market but how to successfully run large resort operations, including Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, as well as the Waldorf-Astoria and the Beverly Hills Hilton,” Snowden stated in the news release. “Bob is ideally suited to drive our Las Vegas strategy forward and lead the Tropicana Las Vegas in its next phase of growth and long-term success.”

by Mary Rupert

Quite a few changes have been made at the Dotte Spot Bar and Grill, 8123 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kan.

The former Sunset Bar and Grill’s name was changed when new owners bought it in March. Besides the name change, there have been some changes to the menu, as well as new paintings and new bar stools, according to Marcie Huckaby, one of the new owners.

The menu now offers lots of different types of hamburgers, including a “build your own burger,” she added. It still has some of the traditional sandwiches, salads and appetizers.

The Dotte Spot also has added a happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., which it didn’t offer before, she said.

Huckaby, who has worked there for 18 years, bought the place with Eric and Melissa Nead. Melissa Nead has worked at the bar and grill for eight years.

“Melissa and I have both worked here a long time, and we love the place,” Huckaby said. “When the opportunity presented itself, we knew we had to jump at it, we knew we could not let it pass us by.”

It’s still a family business, and there are lots of families who come there with their children, she added.

From a family with a long history of small business ownership in Wyandotte County, Huckaby said her father and grandfather owned several businesses, including the former Huckaby Ambulance.

Former Sunset owner Tim Kaminski will devote more time to his other bar, Shark’s Cove, in Basehor, and to his family, she said. He owned the Sunset bar for 13 years. Before that, it was known as the Board Room.

Why the name change from Sunset to Dotte Spot?

“We love it, we’re proud Dottes,” Huckaby said. “We couldn’t have come up with a better name, in our opinion.”

The bar and grill isn’t usually open on Sundays, but this Sunday, June 7, it has a special event planned. A car show will be held in the parking lot starting at 11 a.m., with the public invited to bring their cars and bikes for the free show. There is no registration fee. The bar and grill will be open during the show.