Fill your palace with Caesars decor
If you’re looking for a chair from “The Price is Right,” statues of lounging Greek goddesses or tiki huts for your backyard, you just hit the jackpot.
Caesars Entertainment is unloading more than 14,000 chairs, lampshades, metal bed frames and many other items online and at the Rio hotel-casino this weekend.
On Thursday, collectors and seekers of practical furniture and eccentric Americana were invited to scout the sprawling warehouse and pavement covered by pallets of chairs, piles of hotel equipment and boxes packed with cologne.
Gary David, a Las Vegas collector, strolled from the pavement into a warehouse and bellowed, “This is overpowering, there’s so much stuff.”
Geno Munari, president of Munari Auctions, which is conducting the mega-garage sale, said the Caesars hotel properties are shedding the gear to open up space for valet parking and guest amenities. The furniture, fixtures and equipment come from Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood Resort, Bally’s, Paris Las Vegas, Rio, Harrah’s Las Vegas, The Quad and Flamingo Las Vegas.
“It’s stuff that was taking up space,” Munari said. “It’s surplus buys, construction and outdated items.”
Munari has a crew of 15 employees set to work the auction today through Monday.
“It’s going to be pretty busy, and I’m ready for some long hours,” said Roy Maxey, a forklift operator who will help bidders move their bounty.
Different needs drew locals to the Rio on Thursday.
Lynnis Habashi eyed a tan 2003 Mercedes. “I’ll give it a crack Sunday.”
Jack Paripovich, who does demolition work, scouted items to sell. “Everything has value. With eBay, everything sells.”
Leo White was checking out a golf-cart-sized truckster to convert into an art project. “I want to make it into a mutant vehicle for Burning Man.”
The swimming pool lounge chairs, bathtubs and tiki huts caught the eye of Mark Ackley of Las Vegas.
The tiki huts “would look cool in your backyard if you throw parties,” Ackley said.
Bo Hawks, a Las Vegas auctioneer, was not impressed. He was looking for luxury items, art work and collectibles.
“It’s a lot of crap,” he said.
But perhaps Hawks did not saunter into the warehouse where a giant sign bearing the name of Rao’s, a popular Italian restaurant in Caesars Palace, was available. Next to the triangular-shaped Rao’s sign were framed photos, including a black-and-white shot of Jerry Seinfeld adorned with his signature.
And for you bartender fans, the Rao’s items included a framed photo of Nick “The Vest” Zaloumis, a Bartender Hall of Fame member who worked at the New York restaurant from 1986-2005.
The auction items are behind the Rio hotel and convention hall buildings toward the Twain Avenue side of the property. Call 702-236-4114 or log onto www.MunariAuctions.com for more information.
Alan Snel can be contacted at asnel@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273. Follow Snel on Twitter at @BicycleManSnel
