New store at Cannery is short on gifts, long on booze

You see them at nearly every casino: the gift shop.

Most have a lot of overpriced snacks, a few displays of logo wear, soft drinks and bottled water.

But a North Las Vegas locals casino will try something different next week when the Cannery opens the Canteen on Fourth of July weekend. Cannery customers will be able to use loyalty club points for purchases.

“It’s going to look like a miniature liquor store,” said Josh Killian, the Cannery’s director of marketing. “Hotel guests can still pick up toothpaste and deodorant and various sundries. But there mainly will be rows and aisles of liquor products.”

Killian said the company is making the move as a convenience to customers, both hotel guests and loyal locals.

“In this current economic environment, we’re looking for ways to better serve our customers and grow our business,” Killian said.

The store will be open Sunday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Members of the property’s Can Club loyalty card can use points earned from casino play on purchases.

The Canteen will be located off the Cannery’s valet parking area and customers will be able to park in the valet area to make quick purchases.

The company hopes to capture customers who cash checks at the property, located at Losee and Craig roads, to use the Canteen as a convenience store.

Killian said the Canteen would offer monthly specials, some involving points purchases, others with discounts on popular products for Can Card holders. One of the first specials to be offered will be a six-pack of Budweiser for $3 for Can Club members. There will be a limit of one six-pack purchase per day.

“We weren’t getting what we thought we could be getting out of that space,” he said. “A lot of stuff was staying on the shelf. In some cases, old ideas don’t cut it. Surcharges and resort fees help Strip properties, but we knew we couldn’t do that.”

The company did not disclose how much it invested to transform an existing gift shop into the Canteen, where it redesigned space and installed several new drink coolers.

Killian said the Cannery and the Eastside Cannery are operated independently and a similar concept isn’t contemplated at the Boulder Highway location — yet.

“I’m sure we’ll look at it, but right now, this is something we’re going to try just at the Cannery,” he said. “If it works well, we may try it at the Eastside Cannery.”