On the Corner of Main Street

Sam Joffray is the man in charge of Las Vegas' Super Bowl Committee. He comes from New Orleans, where he organized that city's Super Bowls, Final Fours and several other huge events in The Big Easy. Sam shares a few of the many, many details that must be in place for the big game: hotels, transportation, public safety, team headquarters, media and about 5,000 volunteers to make it all happen. And...

It's only been a few weeks since Pinkbox Donuts opened at The Plaza, next to the Carousel Bar. But the lines are nearly always out the door, as Fremont St. fans grab a sweet snack. Pinkbox is owned by the Siegel Group, and Jonathan sits down with Executive Vice President Judith Siegel and Chief Business Officer Michael Crandall. The two share the company's progress in property management over more...

JRoc, aka Jason Craig, has been behind some of the biggest bars and entertainment venues in Las Vegas for decades. He was part of the original Palms crew - standing in line for three days to apply for as many jobs as he could. JRoc remembers tending bar at the original Playboy Club, and getting noticed by Bronson, now one the Plaza's creative forces. From there, it was being part of The Palms' rea...

Oscar Goodman is back on his stool in the middle of his namesake steakhouse telling tales from the courtroom. The centerpiece is about a trial in Texas and how he (with the help of his insistent client) blew up the testimony of three police officers who failed to notice that people were watching. Also: a question from Big John, a special guest from England.

Gavin is one of those guys who's literally kept the reels turning and cards shuffling for a couple of decades. The Australian got his gaming start in the legal department at Aristocrat Leisure Limited, rising to president of its Americas division. He was COO at Ballys Technologies, CEO at ShuffleMaster, and CEO of Scientific Games. Along the way he's held senior spots at Galaxy Gaming and Games Gl...

It's been a great few weeks at the Plaza, as the reimagining of Main Street is nearing completion. The Carousel Bar is open, and the new non-smoking, video-friendly casino is open! Jonathan, Lisa and Gary discuss, and preview things still to come. But it's also a bittersweet episode as the brains behind this podcast, Lisa Melmed, is leaving. Listen to learn the details!   Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, L...

Second-generation gaming executive Noah Acres runs Acres Manufacturing with his father, John. The company says: EVERY casino in the world uses at least one of its inventions. Its most famous tools: the system that links slot machines to create progressive jackpots and another that allows casinos to track slot machine players by using loyalty cards. Noah and Jonathan talk about the future of loyalt...

Scott Roeben is the very first person to be a guest for the fourth time! He and Jonathan and Lisa dive into what's happening with the Plaza improvements, as well as downtown. Scott re-visits his dust-up with the Sahara, Scott still doesn't get the appeal of pickleball and bingo, even as he was caught in a wave of people exiting Super Bingo. Also: Jonathan tells the story of Big John, a London-base...

For the past five years, Johnny Avello has been the face of DraftKings' sports book, shepherding its rollout across the US. Before that, he ran Wynn's sports book - one of the few remaining stand-alone books in Las Vegas. Johnny recalls many of his stops in his 40 years in Las Vegas - and how he almost didn't make it thanks to his work at a not-so-legal casino in the heart of New York City decades...

For nearly four decades, Sal Piacente has been spotting casino cheats and advantage players. He recently taught Plaza's dealers things they never knew! Sal recalls his first exposure to gambling as a child - courtesy of his father. His dealing roots go to Atlantic City, but he also tells the tale of showing up at one venerable Las Vegas casino, and dealing craps a couple of hours later!  Hosts: Jo...

Oscar is back with an assortment of stories from his days in the courtroom. Listen all the way to learn about a juror's "tell," the very surprising resolution for a Reno dentist accused of awful crimes, and how an autographed baseball helped him win a big case. Also: lots of questions from diners, and a guest appearance by the CEO of Plaza's parent company.  Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed  

We are three years old! "On The Corner of Main Street" started slowly, was interrupted by Covid, came back remotely, started recording again with VERY long microphone cables across half the bar at Oscar's... and we're still here. Jonathan, Lisa, Gary and producer Rich Johnson recall some of the best moments of all that time. They also catch up on what's happening these days, look back at the Super...

When it comes to "been  there, done that," few can match Sue Ascanio. The 30-year gaming veteran has risen from running the employee cafeteria at the Holiday Casino to managing properties in Las Vegas, Indiana and California. And now she's back, as General Manager of the Plaza. Sue is the first female GM in downtown Las Vegas. She shares her journey in what she admits is her very first podcast! Ho...

Hizzoner is back! This time we've taken the greatest hits from Oscar's November Dinner Series talk and asked him to expand on the stories. The common theme of the random stories: how Oscar never dined with his clients (although his mother did). Also: defending the mayor of San Diego, and securing the release from jail of newspaper vending machines. 

From slots to the 9th Island, Andre Filosi has spent nearly his entire working life with Boyd Gaming. He's currently the General Manager of Boyd's three downtown properties, the Fremont, Main St. Station and the California. Andre shares his own journey up the ladder, as well as how the California went from the verge of bankruptcy to the most popular destination in Las Vegas for Hawaiians. It's ano...

When you need a license to run a casino in Nevada, Dennis Gutwald is that man to see. That's what Jonathan did when he took over the Plaza a decade ago. Gutwald was also an investigator for the Nevada Gaming Control Board. These days, along with gaming, he also advises people in the cannabis business. He shares stories of his long career, including how he helped then 29-year old Jonathan become th...

Casinos, online gaming, and online travel reservations. Tim Poster has been successful in all three. He made his first fortune turning a Vegas-centric telephone hotel reservation service into a company that Expedia would buy. He bought the Golden Nugget, then sold it for a profit after only 18 months - becoming a reality TV star along the way. He tells all - in one of our most comprehensive episod...

It's quite an accomplishment to become the head of Las Vegas casino. But Marilyn Spiegel has been at the helm of SEVEN casinos in her career.  From the Holiday Casino to not one but TWO tenures as president of Wynn/Encore, Marilyn has seen and done a lot. Just reciting her resume is a mini history of The Strip and beyond. But she goes above and beyond when sharing her amazing story with Jonathan a...

The song title from the legendary musical "South Pacific" was the theme of Oscar Goodman's last dinner series talk. He shared stories of the important women in his life, starting with his grandmother, wife and daughter. Then it's off to the races, as Oscar tells the tales of a sleepy judge, a con woman client and a brilliant prosecutor. And, Oscar being Oscar, he veers into a couple of other stori...

John O'Donnell is the bartender at One Steakhouse at the Virgin Hotel. That's kinda like saying LeBron James is a noted basketball player. John's been at the center of the action for nearly 30 years - most notably during his years at N9NE Steakhouse at Palms. He also led the creation of the East Fremont scene at La Comida, and made Crush the place to be at the MGM Grand. John shares his journey fr...

A trial is supposed to be about the prosecution and the defense. But Oscar Goodman says, in most of his mob-related cases, it was him against the world - meaning the prosecution and the judge. In the episode, we bring you the best of Oscar's recent dinner series talk on 'Rotten Tomato Judges,' as well as a conversation a couple weeks later amplifying some stories.  Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Mel...

Like so many others here, Las Vegas native and City Council member Cedric Crear started his career on a casino floor. And he used that experience, plus his time at Howard University, to grow his own businesses and serve the public. His resume is filled with advisory board positions. And since 2018 he's represented Ward 5, which includes the Historic Westside and the land on which the Plaza sits, o...

Hold percentages. Smoking or non-smoking. The Showroom's future. Doug Stanhope. Demolition Derby. And yes, resort fees. Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel tackles questions both easy and difficult that podcast listeners and social media fans have submitted. Helping JJ with answers, and making his first podcast appearance: Plaza's all-around creative, F-and-B and entertainment consultant, Bronson Olimpieri....

Ted Pappageorge may be the most impactful person in Las Vegas over the past four decades when it comes to casino workers. He's Secretary-Treasurer of Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which represents about 60,000 people. Ted traces his career from busboy to bartender to union activist, looking to ensure that he, a single father, and his two children continued to have quality healthcare.  Hosts: J...

When the body-filled barrels showed up in the rapidly receding Lake Mead, the world's media immediately called Oscar Goodman for comment. And yes, he has a few comments - mostly about how there's no way that he would know who's in those barrels. Oscar, with a little prodding from Jonathan, spoke about it at his latest Oscar Dinner Series event. So come with us now to the dining room at Oscar's for...