Las Vegas used to be famous for massive all-you-can-eat spreads that could feed an army for a few bucks. Today only a handful of these iconic spots remain as casinos shift their focus toward new dining styles. While official reasons often mention changing tastes many people believe there is a lot more to the story than what we are told.
The End of the Loss Leader
Casinos used to lose money on food just to get you through the door and onto the game floor. Nowadays they want every single part of the building to make a profit so the cheap shrimp drink is gone.
The Fancy Food Hall Takeover
You might see these new food halls popping up which are basically just upscale food courts with separate prices for everything. It is way easier for a casino to rent out a small stall to a burger joint than to run a giant kitchen themselves.
Younger People Want Quick Bites
Millennials and younger travelers do not really want to sit in a big booth for two hours eating until they feel like they might pop. They would rather grab a high quality taco or a sandwich and get back to the music and the fun.
It Is Just Too Expensive to Run
Keeping a mountain of prime rib warm under a heat lamp costs a fortune when you think about the power and the staff needed. Since food prices have gone up so much many owners decided it was finally time to pull the plug on the buffet line.
Using the Shutdown as an Excuse
A few years ago when everything had to close down for safety many buffets simply never opened their doors back up. It gave the big bosses a perfect reason to get rid of a part of the business that was already struggling.
Fighting Against Massive Food Waste
Watching trays of perfectly good food get tossed out at the end of the night is not a great look for any business. Casinos are trying to be more green and getting rid of the buffet is a very easy way to cut down on all that garbage.
Better Quality in Smaller Portions
People are starting to realize that eating ten plates of okay food is not as good as eating one really amazing meal. Many visitors are happy to pay more for a celebrity chef burger than a giant pile of soggy lasagna and some mystery salad.
Making Way for More Slot Machines
If you take out a massive dining room that seats five hundred people you can fit a whole lot of new slot machines in that space. At the end of the day those blinking lights make way more money for the house than a salad bar ever could.
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