Ormsby House employees talk about closure

Several Ormsby House staffers who learned Thursday they will be laid off within two months when the casino closes to complete renovations were undaunted and look forward to returning when it reopens next summer.

Many employees of the hotel/casino already are working at a second or even a third job. Some work there seasonally, and some plan to take advantage of placement assistance being offered by the business and state employment service.

Patricia Gonzalez, a swing shift hostess in the V&T Coffee Shop, was dabbing tears from her eyes as she sat in a breakroom soon after learning the casino would close.

"To me, its very sad. I've learned a lot since coming to the Ormsby House five years ago," she said.

"When I started, I did not speak much English. The Ormsby House gave me the opportunity to work with the public anyway and I've learned every day, from my customers and my co-workers.

"I feel like it's part of my family. I have a lot of loyalty to the Ormsby House."

Gonzalez said she was hired to work in the gift shop. When that was closed, she transferred to the coffee shop.

While the property is closed, she said, she will work more at her other job and will care for her 8-year-old son, Luis.

"I hope to come back to the Ormsby House," she said.

Slot mechanic Steve May said he will be at the promised job fair for Ormsby House employees next week.

Another five-year employee, May has worked in gaming for more than 20 years and remembers another casino closing in 1980 because substantial repairs were needed.

Those circumstances were a bit different though - a blackmailer's bomb had exploded at Harvey's at South Lake Tahoe. May said he was working the change booth at Tahoe Sierra nearby when the bomb went off.

Bartender Pete Lorusso said he was not surprised by the announcement, because everyone on the staff knew the work was going to have to be done somehow and there were lots of rumors circulating.

"It's not going to be too hard on me, because I already work several jobs. Sometimes I'm here full-time, sometimes I'm doing the banquets and conventions," Lorusso said. "I'll go work at a ski resort this winter and, if I'm available next summer,I could be back here.

"But it's not so good for those who only have this one job. And I've got a lot of friends here I won't see as much.

"Life goes on, but you deal with it."

Carol Graves, a porter who has been in the Ormsby House housekeeping department for five years, said she expects to collect her unemployment benefits for at least a little while.

"My husband is receiving Social Security disability payments, so we're lucky not to be totally reliant on my income," Graves said.

"But I'll miss it here. I enjoy my work and like my boss and the people I work with. I'm a people person. I'll reapply when the Ormsby House reopens."