A “super deluxe” entertainment piazza awaits those who love the night life. It’s going to be a Hollywood-style disco club cum social establishment that will house restobars, an open-air garden bistro, a patisserie and gaming rooms.
This was announced during a presscon with Chris Karageorges, a businessman from Cyprus whose company, Don Christo K. Inc., has taken over the one-hectare wide old Casino in Nivel Hills, Lahug—used to be run by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR)—with a long-term lease.
Karageorges, as what the Balkan in-flight magazine describes him, is an international commodity dealer who “is an Englishman of Cyprian stock, a composed, well-balanced man with an attractive smile and gentlemanly demeanor who has the rules of the game called business at his fingertips.”
According to his official website, Karageorges specializes in entertainment and shipping trades. He is the president and sole owner of the Bulgarian International Trading and Shipping Co Ltd based in Bulgaria. He also owns a construction company, the Chris Karageorges Constructions, and is a manufacturer of liquors, particularly vodka.
His search for another, most suitable place to invest in brought him to the Philippines, particularly in Cebu, finding potential in the spacious old casino that boasts of a breathtaking view overlooking the city.
In an interview with him, he said he would turn the old casino into a cozy entertainment plaza or Hollywood–style disco where everyone can enjoy a night of dancing, different kinds of gaming, and a dining experience overlooking a garden taverne and many more. Aside from tapping the local entertainment industry, Karageorges also said that he intends to bring international performers and celebrities to complete the club’s Hollywood concept.
Karageorges said that this will be the first of its kind in the country, with his investment, in his estimate, totaling to more or less five million euro. He plans to make its design luxurious, yet conducive for all types of activities as the disco house will have a convertible or multi-functional feature to accommodate all kinds of occasions. The area would be big enough to accommodate 8,000 customers, according to Karageorges’ calculation.
He said that their target market encompasses the A, B and C crowd, as investment will be recovered immediately if they will open this venture to a larger number of clients and wider social strata.
According to Jose Gloria, the executive director of Don Christo K. who has had been in the casino industry, they have done market and business research before coming up with the concept of the project. Don Christo K. will also be applying for a five-star accreditation from the Department of Tourism.
Karageorges added that the project, which will also be named Don Christo K., promises around 250 to 300 jobs to Cebuanos once it becomes operational before the year ends. “This [establishment] will be a surprise to the Cebuanos,” Karageorges said.