Not currently considered a hotspot for nightlife and entertainment, the Newburgh Mall will soon be home to the region’s newest casino: Resorts World Hudson Valley. The 50,000-square-foot Resorts World, which boasts more than 1,200 slot machines and electronic table games and a large sports betting bar, will be open to the public at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28, according to Meghan Taylor, the vice president of Resorts World New York.

In recent years, the Newburgh Mall has struggled to attract new tenants. This past fall, the mall lost one of its anchor stores when Sears permanently closed its doors.

But Taylor, who is originally from Washingtonville, said she hopes the Route 300 casino will bring a new energy and excitement to the struggling mall and greater Newburgh community.

"The foot traffic here in the mall is going to significantly increase compared to what it has been in the past, and we believe that's going to create an opportunity for the mall ownership to attract new tenants," Taylor said.

Glendalie Cruz, the beverage manager for Resorts World New York, said she is looking forward to seeing how the mall changes once the casino opens.

"I think more stores and restaurants will park themselves over here, and I think there's going to be more opportunities for this mall," Cruz said, noting that Resorts World will only offer drinks and snacks at the bar. "We're going to give them more business not only for ourselves, but for the community."

Cruz said she lives in New Windsor and is extremely excited for the Newburgh location to open next week. Previously, Cruz said, she'd been commuting to Resorts World Catskills in Monticello.

Resorts World, Taylor said, will employ about 250 full-time, and the majority of those employees will be local to Newburgh and the Hudson Valley. According to a statement from Resorts World, the average annual wage for these employees will be $72,000, including benefits. The casino is expected to rake in millions in tax dollars for the town, the statement said.

In an effort to make Resorts World Hudson Valley feel like a comfortable place for locals to patronize, the casino features murals of various Hudson Valley landmarks including the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge and the Bear Mountain Bridge.

"We really wanted to make folks feel at home here and provide an entertainment destination where even if you don't gamble, you can come and stop in for a drink with your friends after work and relax for a little bit before you jump in the car and go back home," Taylor said. "We really wanted to create this almost 'Cheers'-type environment where we are the choice for folks to come and relax and enjoy some time with their friends."

Resorts World Hudson Valley is operated by the Genting Group, which owns casinos and resorts in Las Vegas, the Bahamas, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and the United Kingdom. In addition to Resorts World Hudson Valley, there are New York locations in Monticello and Queens.

Resorts World Hudson Valley is owned by an international corporation, but Taylor said locals should know that Hudson Valley natives have played a significant role in bringing the casino to the Newburgh Mall.

"This community is my community," Taylor said. "My family, my friends− they're here and this job that we are doing here at the mall is going to significantly impact them. I feel like I almost have a personal, vested interest in ensuring that this project was done responsibly."

By Erin Nolan