Ellis Island Closes Brewery, More Changes in the Works

By Scott Roeben, on November 18 2022

3 min read 20 comments

Las Vegas Las Vegas Casinos

A beloved off-Strip casino, Ellis Island Hotel, Casino & Brewery, may have to trim the “brewery” part from its name.

Ellis Island closed its on-site brewery in preparation for a number of changes coming to the casino.

By volume, the brewery was the largest in Nevada.

The windows through which guests could view the brewery tanks has been covered up, sad trombonewise.

All traces of Ellis Island’s fermentation tanks, removed by crane, were gone on Nov. 17, 2022.

Here’s a look at the tanks when they were being moved around back in May 2022.

Some changes in the works at Ellis Island. Top secretish. (h/t @JamesInLasVegas) pic.twitter.com/RHWdc3OY3M

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) May 5, 2022

A sign covering the brewery windows says, “Something New. Coming Soon.”

We trust Ellis Island would prefer this happen quietly. We don’t really do quietly.

From what we hear, Ellis Island will now serve beer from the Ellis family’s brewery in St. George, Utah. Silver Reef Brewing opened in 2018.

Fun fact: During the pandemic, Ellis Island converted its Utah distillery to produce hand sanitizer.

Here’s more about the former brewery at Ellis Island.

Ellis Island casino originally opened as The Village Pub in 1967. The name change happened in 1985. There are about a dozen Village Pubs around Las Vegas. The brewery has been in operation since 1993.

The closure of the brewery at Ellis Island is a precursor of a number of changes at the casino. We’ve been sworn to secrecy about some of them, so you’re on your own there.

Ultimately, the footprint of Ellis Island and its casino is simply too small to host a brewery. It’s been a charming amenity, but given the limited space, it’s a better move to increase the size of the casino floor and add a new restaurant. Allegedly.

Despite the karaoke, Ellis Island is one of our favorite places to play and dine in all of Las Vegas. It has a warm vibe, and it’s one of the few remaining casinos that’s value-driven.

A typical beer from the aforementioned former brewery cost about $2.50, for example.

The ATM fee at Ellis Island casino, as another example, is $2.50, compared to almost $10 on The Strip.

Ellis Island is about the only casino we can think of that still has $5 craps frequently.

A little inside baseball: Ellis Island is one of the few casinos where dealers get to keep their own tips (as opposed to pooling them).

As a longtime fan, we even gave them a spectacular tagline they have yet to integrate into their advertising, but we remain optimistic they will do so.

We have a love-hate relationship with Ellis Island casino. Love the place, hate to leave.™️ @elliscasinolv

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) August 8, 2022

We not only love Ellis Island, we love the Ellis family, as it’s a family-owned and operated casino.

Gary Ellis owns the joint with his wife, Cindy. Daughter Christina Ellis is Vice President of Development at Ellis Island, her sister Annamarie Ellis is Vice President of Operations. A third daughter, Michaela Ellis, handles Human Resources. Yes, we have begged the Ellis family on many occasions to adopt us, but no decision has been reached yet, apparently. (Note to our actual mom: Sorry if this hurts your feelings, but you don’t own a casino. Nobody’s perfect.)

OMG, the Ellis family is adorable. Celebrating 50th anniversary of family-owned @EllisCasinoLV this Saturday. pic.twitter.com/ISjxxd8R3j

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) April 13, 2018

About the closure of the Ellis Island casino brewery, Christina Ellis said in an official statement, “While our brewery operations have moved offsite to our larger facility in St. George, our Ellis Island beer will go unchanged—same recipes, same quality and the same brewers! Moving the brewery gives us additional space to bring new offerings to Ellis Island. We’re excited to announce those new offerings soon and we trust Vital Vegas will be snooping around, ruining our surprises in the weeks and months to come.”

That, friends, is one of the reasons we love Ellis Island the the Ellis family so very much.

Eh, who cares about whether beer is brewed on-site or not?

This, of course, is a question coming from someone who has never had a beer, but still.

Although the brewery at Ellis Island is no more, a reminder of the brewery will presumably remain, a grain silo outside.

We’ll keep an eye on all the moves at Ellis Island, and trust us, it will remain one of the best places to gamble, drink and eat in town.

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20 Comments

Michelle Puha March 12, 2023

We love Ellis Island!! We found it several years ago and have gone every time we go to Vegas. Annamarie came to the Pub and talked with us to approve our free lunches...we were very impressed with her! She was awesome and made us feel so welcomed! We bought her flowers, cause she deserved them! Thanks Annamarie for everything! See you this year!
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Value Bringer November 22, 2022

They're not perfect, but it feels like Ellis Island can do no wrong. Their limited space is far too valuable for brewing amenities. And the economics of making it outside of Nevada and trucking it to Vegas must make sense. I noticed food prices were up notably since the pre-pandemic pricing, but hard to be upset about. Ellis Island still brings the value.
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Thomas D. November 21, 2022

Somebody is saying you reported that Ellis Island had only temporarily removed its beer tanks, and then hours later you reported it was permanent. But I don't believe that. You have great sources at Ellis Island.
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Scott Roeben November 22, 2022

I figured they'd be back, so I shared that, but clarified once I spoke with someone at Ellis Island. They won't be back.
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Mark Bashore November 21, 2022

I'm hoping that the increased space will be used for MORE $5 Craps tables. I love the place and always make it a "must stop" when in town, but waiting to get to the ONE $5 craps table was tough. MORE TABLES, MORE TABLES, MORE TABLES!
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Don Loch November 21, 2022

We never went to Ellis Island for the brewery, but we do love the restaurant and food specials!
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vince November 20, 2022

Wow I just went to the brewery for the first time last week to catch the Eagles game and loved it, this is such a bummer. I get the update is for the best of the resort so eager to see what's coming up for Ellis Island. slightly off topic but via focaccia is the business
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Jonathan Daponte November 20, 2022

To Me Ellis Island has and always will be a staple of Las Vegas. A relaxed atmosphere and a homey feel. If you want the hustle and bustle of vegas than jump onto the strip. At Ellis Island you can still get all what vegas offers without the out of control craziness. Ellis Island is kinda like "Cheers" It's where ?? Everybody knows your name... And their always glad you came ... ??
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Vice November 19, 2022

Used to love it. Went last Saturday and the Video Poker Pay-Tables have been decimated to an unplayable level for a local.
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William Wingo November 19, 2022

Colorado Belle in Laughlin stopped brewing their own beer at "Pints" Brewpub, which was probably the second-largest brewery in Nevada. At about the same time, they shut down several other "marginal" operations including the best poker room in the area; and then closed completely in the pandemic and never re-opened. I hope that's not the shape of things to come for Ellis Island....but then I haven't been back to Vegas in 2-1/2 years, and not to Ellis Island in considerably longer than that.
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Christine and Joe November 19, 2022

We had every breakfast there when we got married in Vegas in October. Shout out to Mandy, our server who made our Vegas trip one to remember. The food was amazing but Mandy was first class.
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James November 19, 2022

Let's hope things don't change too much. The beer being brewed off-site isn't a big deal, but please keep the prices down without sacrificing quality. This is Vegas like it used to be, what a shame it may go the way of so many other places.
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Michael Alexakis November 19, 2022

This place is a gem, they are bucking the disgusting usurious greed of the major places that jacked craps minimums up so far that a middle class person would be foolish to risk that much on dice. Just the fact that even Downtown casinos are treating customers this way is disheartening, and this is a knife in the back to employee's as well. I am disappointed in casino patrons who allow themselves to be manipulated into playing above their means, unfortunately for them they will learn hard lessons about casino money management. Ellis Island gives me a fair shot, allows me to continue to play how I have played my whole life, trying as hard as I can to play smart and within my means...
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Pamela November 18, 2022

Please don't change to much. Ellis is the best for locals and casino employees. That's what wrong with Vegas always trying too fix something that is not broke.
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Howard December 23, 2022

Pamelia "That's what wrong with Vegas always trying too fix something that is not broke." It's called GREED!
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Carl K November 18, 2022

Hope they still make their own Rootbeer. It's delicious.
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Tim November 19, 2022

Love the root beer. One reason I keep coming back.Besides the great barbaque and great prices at all the food places.
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William Carson November 18, 2022

We love Ellis Island, patronize there often the food is always spot on, as long as the beer doesn’t change its no big deal we’ll always continue patronizing and keep bringing friends and family to
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Ed Wheeler November 18, 2022

The beer was awful. Tastes like a cross between dirty water and Bud Lite. Didn't matter what you odered. They even messed up wheat beers. Not a loss at all.
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Mike D November 18, 2022

As long as the price doesn't change, I don't care where they brew it! The on-site brewery always felt like the excuse for the low prices. With all the inflation going on, Ellis Island is one of the last holdouts of the old Vegas way of things.
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