Hard Rock Casino, opening by year's end, pitches job, vendor opportunities
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) – The president of the new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino was in Bakersfield Monday to speak to the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce about what we can expect from the entertainment venue.
It's full speed ahead for the hotel and casino at the base of the Grapevine – not only for those who like to wager, but for those wagering on the Kern County economy.
In agreement, is Chris Kelley, president of the Hard Rock, currently under construction in the burgeoning new community of Grapevine near Mettler, about 20 miles south of Bakersfield.
Kelley said the billion-dollar project will create about 5,000 jobs, including 1,000 direct full-and part-time positions.
He spoke Monday about employment and vendor opportunities.
'We were just out at the site a little while ago,' he told KGET. 'This thing is moving quickly. You can see it coming out of the ground. All that cement and steel…it won't be too long before we're able to welcome our friends in the community.'
This project, owned by the Native American Tejon Tribe, has been on the table for five years.
Kelley, who has been in the casino business for 25 years, says to be patient.
'You and I will be sharing a glass of champagne between now and the end of the year,' he said.
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Phase 2, the hotel portion of the project, comes later, without a set date for completion. Same for Hard Rock's concert venue, who's opening date is not yet determined.
Jessica Jones of the Marcom Group was one of the potential vendors who attended the luncheon in hopes of pitching her local company's creative services – website development, social media, fresh-content blogging, etc.
'We are definitely looking to work with the Hard Rock if there's anything we can help them with – logo design, anything like that,' she said.
The Hard Rock's neighbors will include a number of retail-corporate warehouses, as well as the Tejon Outlets and, coming soon from all appearances, residential apartments – a look new for this area.
Slowly but surely, a new community is coming together at the very southern tip of the San Joaquin Valley – and the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino might be the most important piece to date.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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