KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasNew Frontier Closes its Doors

New Frontier Closes its Doors

The New Frontier closed its doors just after Midnight on July 16, 2007 bringing an end to a historic Las Vegas property.

"Beyond sad. A lot of wonderful memories tied into the Frontier," said longtime patron Jayne Nathan on closing night.

The New Frontier is now part of old Las Vegas.  Once the doors shut, many of the Frontier's employees who had prided themselves on how long they worked at the property had no place to go.

For many workers,  the Frontier was their life. It was a fixture on the Las Vegas Strip for 65 years.

"A lot of memories. In 38 years, it's like I grew up here, " said Shirley Sarlo, who has been a cocktail waitress at the Frontier for nearly four decades.

The closure left nearly 900 workers without a paycheck, many older workers were forced into retirement. Frontier workers say few corporate casinos will hire on older employees.

The Culinary Union stepped in to help beginning training workers in new technology and new positions. so they can be more marketable.

"It's a competitive market. I have some things going, but it takes a long time," Scott Giambelluca commented.

Even with the closure, he's happy the Frontier gave him a chance a few years ago.

Over the years, the building and name have changed. Ronald Reagan, Elvis Presley and Siegfried and Roy all performed at the Frontier. The New Frontier was also the scene of one of the longest running labor strikes in U.S. history. Workers walked the picket line for more than six years. That strike was settled Feb. 1, 1998.

"We walked in together and tonight we'll be walking out together," Sarlo said on closing night. 

The Culinary Union did help push owner Phil Ruffin into granting severance pay to many of the workers so that should help with some bills.

In place of the Frontier, there will be a multi-billion dollar hotel and resort modeled after The Plaza Hotel in New York which is due to open in 2011.