Terrible’s takes over businesses in Primm next month, planning a seamless transition from the company that announced in May that it was ending efforts there.
Terrible’s Gaming will take over oversight of several subsidiary companies currently controlled by Las Vegas-based Affinity Gaming on July 1, assuring that much of the retail in Primm will stay open during the Fourth of July weekend and more than 300 employees there will keep their jobs and their in-town housing.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board Thursday morning recommended approval of licensing and the Nevada Gaming Commission affirmed the plan later in the day.
Tim Herbst, one of three brothers running the Terrible Herbst Oil Co. and Terrible’s Gaming, told members of the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission in separate meetings Thursday that the bid to continue operating properties at Primm was a matter of “Nevadans helping Nevadans” and keeping loyal Primm workers employed and customers well served.
“I read, just like you guys reported on May 5, that 300 and some employees received the WARN Act (notification), and most of them lived out at Primm and they were getting evicted,” Herbst said after the special Gaming Control Board meeting.
“Being a friend of the Primm family, we just felt it was our obligation to call the Primm family and see if there was anything we could do to help keep those employees employed. We operate down the street from them, and our suppliers are basically the same suppliers as them. Pilot Flying J, Chevron, Starbucks, and this and that, and all the nongaming issues are really a plug-and-play. And obviously, gaming comes with a different set of regulations, and that’s why we called out to the Chairman (Mike) Dreitzer about, if we got a deal, could he get on a special agenda and get open before these folks lost any paychecks? And that’s what it’s all about.”
Herbst said his highest priority was helping the Primm employees.
“Do we have any long-term plans? No. (We want to) stabilize what’s going on out there, making sure that Nevadan tourists and travelers are either coming to Las Vegas or traveling to our beautiful state to go somewhere else, that it’s open. It’s the gateway to Las Vegas. Losing their jobs and being evicted, that’s a double whammy.”
Herbst said there was an emotional meeting of Primm employees with his company’s leaders “with handshakes, hugs, kisses on the cheek and some tears” when the strategy was outlined to workers.
The Control Board had set a June 17 deadline for Herbst to submit its application for licensing in order to schedule Thursday’s special board meeting and get the recommendation for approval on the commission agenda.
Herbst thanked Dreitzer, Commission Chairwoman Jennifer Togliatti, Clark County Commission Chairman Michael Naft, Gov. Joe Lombardo and all their staffs for setting the administrative wheels in motion for the necessary regulatory approvals.
Herbst said the immediate plan is to make sure the retail operations continue and to keep the gasoline station, convenience store and the Primm Valley Resort hotel-casino open. The company will evaluate how to proceed with the Buffalo Bill’s and Whiskey Pete’s gaming properties.
Other long-term plans will take time to finalize and the Herbst and Primm families are working together to coordinate.
“Terrible’s and the Primm family share a commitment to identifying meaningful opportunities for investment, infrastructure improvements, enhanced amenities, and new experiences that will strengthen the properties and support sustainable growth for years to come,” Herbst said.
Herbst said his company is mindful of plans by Clark County to build the Southern Nevada Supplemental Airport north of Primm, knowing that project isn’t likely to be completed until the late 2030s. He also noted the Brightline West high-speed rail project will be built along the Interstate 15 corridor between Las Vegas and Southern California and that while there aren’t any plans for trains to stop in Primm, he indicted his company could discuss the possibility with rail officials.
For now, there’s greater focus on being available to passengers of the estimated 20 million vehicles that operate on I-15 annually.
Fans of the California Lottery will be happy to know that the convenience store on the California side of the state line will remain open without interruption with Terrible’s officials in negotiations with lottery officials to assure a smooth transition. That store has the highest volume of California lottery ticket sales in the state.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.
