www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Big John, majority owner of the Del Rey has been living in the Phillipines for the last few years. He returns here a couple of times a year or "when there is a crisis." wELL HE IS HERE NOW AND HAVING MEETINGS WITH THE BOSSES. I was told by a very good ssource that the "crisis" is The new Mona Lisa hotel and casino. Big John doesn't like direct competition. and it seems thaat he considers the ML competition before they are even up and runnung. He bought out most of the storefronts across the street for this reason. He isn't concerned with the SL (smaller with no casino) or HLH (no casino and very limited rooms) The Colonial with the Sleep Inn has pissed him off for a long time.

There aren't too many regulars on this board that would shed a tear if the DR took a hit and became an also ran. So I say go Guy go and I hope the ML puts a dagger in the DR.

ML will def hurt their hotel room biz or what's left of it. I read a post from a guy who says from his apt he can see the DR and the % of lit room lights is often low.

The bar/chica scene? My recollection of the size and layout of the ground floor of the Clarion Amon gives me pause. I know the ML is making changes to it but guys are going to drink where the chica's hangout. The DR has lot's of room in seperate/different "turf areas" for 100+ girls to just sit around or stand around or manuever around and the same for guys. It has the perfect logistics and atmosphere for girls to ply their trade. Due to size and image constraints, going to be hard for the ML to create that kind of playing field/environment, at least on as grand of scale. And then there's habits and loyalists, she has built up a clientele that are going to be looking for her there, he knows alot of his favoritas may likely be there. The DR has an 18-19 year head start. Casino biz would seem to follow. Only time will tell. But, I'm pulling for the ML to pull it off.

God Bless the Del Rey and all its problems,its the closes thing to Heaven I can find for a two and a half hour, $250.00 flight for a three day weekend

Some people do not understand competition is good. It makes owners improve their facilities and not just drain the money from a business. I hope the ML does become a competitive venue. It will help the Market.

Competition is a good thing I agree.


and I hope these guys make a go of the new hotel BUT too many past problems will come back to haunt these guys

they still owe $$ to the Caja and also Back taxes. I am even surprised these guys opened..

do you honestly think the Government will allow another del rey situation happen..

Guaranteed

the boys at the del rey are having thier attorney on retainer.. start making a few calls to municipality.. and FBI .. as soon as they start to get momentum

BAM!! here they come.

if they can withstand the first 2 years $$$$ wise.. they may have a chance.

should be an interesting watch

I was told by one of the owners that ALL the permits are in place. Who knows? I've heard about some debts that went along with the sale. I hope they make it. SJ can certainly use another venue for the chicas to strut their stuff. The poker room is the only thing operational at this point. (along with 20 rooms.) It is a very nice place to play. At this point I think the biggest problem is the location. But then again Zona Blue and subsequent names made it across the street for a long time.

Good point VB the HDR has a ruthless reputation and deep pockets so you have to wonder if they will throw a monkey wrench at the competition.

Many of us have often wondered if there's a deal with the DR and the powers that be in SJ.

Some would ask why, it's all legal, yet some would think SJ is so corrupt that the powers that be would not let anyone make that kind of money the way that they are--legal but-- without an arrangement. Obviously, CR or SJ could mess with them to no end for bs reasons which they have from time to time for show?

Edgar Marin was the DR's day to day lawyer, or "in house" lawyer as he would be called in the US. His "no name on the door" office was last I knew located on the 2nd floor of one of those dumps the DR owns across the street from the BM door. I have used him for referrals re: who do I hire to get this done in CR--nothing illegal--just trying to avoid getting ripped off. Is he their go to guy on all matters or just handling the routines? Or maybe an intermediary for bigger matters? Do they need one?

My unsubstantiated hunch has always involved the guy that the latest poll shows a 60% chance of being the biggest man in all of CR soon. He's been one of the elected main men in SJ since 1982, the main man in SJ since '98. And he's kind of a wheeler dealer.

But, I am from an old city where that's the way it would work, somehow, someway, through the big dog's underlings.

I'm just purely guessing about how they do it, and if they do it, in SJ. I'll take a guess though that the big dogs in SJ aren't letting the little dogs operate solo.

So does the DR have the clout to eliminate or obstruct a competitor? Who knows. We'll see.

the ruthless part is the most intimidating. i can not speculate to what degree the big dog in the room will go to defend its turf
one would have to believe that as with all cash money underground business they will defend it vigorously.
has to be some dark forces at work here as well.
third world, prostitution, big money business. hope sanity prevails for all involved.

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I am curious as to why Big John would live in the Philippines. Besides Filipinas what does the Philippines offer over CR for a guy with his wealth?

Devo

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Ok, maybe I'm showing my still newbie ignorance, but what about the Horseshoe Casino across the street from the HDR???? Isn't that or wasn't that considered a threat to his income, even if just to gambling money???

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vegas Bob


Randall was the previous owner that brought the place to the ground. never paying caja and never paying the taxes on the place yet he collected taxes from all the sales

they finally shut him down.

from what i understood the place was in auction so I am not sure how this would work here.

hopefully they will gain ground.

I don't think so - there is little of a "bar scene" and fewer girls - more of a pure casino, so its likely not viewed as competition - sorta like the Colonial next door; neither of the 2 mentioned have a hotel, either - its the bar, girls, hotel and casino that likely has him riled up - just a guess, but I don't think I'm far off the mark.

I like many long term visitors have a love/hate relationship w/ the HDR - personally, I think there could be enough business for both, but wish Guy and crew all the best - there is an old saying that you should be nice to everyone on the way up, b/c you are going to meet them on the way down - if I was Big John, I would also take a lesson from the Beatle Bar in Jaco - anytime - ANYTIME - you have a business highly dependent on public taste, and your client base can vote with their feet......you need to do everything possible to treat them well and retain their business - Bill at the Sportsmans knows this; many in business do not.

I don't understand why Big John is so concerned. He has more money than God and doesn't want to live here. He sits at his desk drinking glass after glass of white wine (my kind of drinker) looking at his computer. When he gets up to go anywhere he needs one of the gorillas for him to lean on. The DR hasn't put any money into the place for years. If I were John I would either put money into it (like Mona Lisa) and return it to it's former glory, or put a huge "for Sale" sign on it and say soyonara.

I have no idea why he returned but perhaps the new law concerning trafficking is the reason not the Mona Lisa. If I was the owner of the HDR that would concern me more then the Mona Lisa.



Sleep Inn is part of the Colonial Casino.

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