Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Liquidation Sale:

‘It’s like a big scavenger hunt’: Buyers find bargains, collectibles at Riviera

Riviera Liquidation Sale

Steve Marcus

A sign advertises the liquidation sale Thursday, May 14, 2015, at the Riviera.

Price tags are affixed all over the Riviera now, and crowds poured in to inspect them today as the resort’s liquidation sale opened to the general public.

The sale kicked off this morning after the property let in some people, namely former Riviera staffers, for first dibs yesterday. During the initial four days of the sale, potential buyers must pay $10 for a chance to snag memorabilia, casino equipment, room fixtures and more from the 60-year old property that closed May 4.

After the first four-day period, admission is free. The sale will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

As the sale began around 9 a.m. today, a lengthy line stretched all the way around the Riviera convention space. Customers reported waiting hours just to get in.

Riviera Liquidation Sale

Magician Murray Sawchuck waits to pay for chandeliers from the Frank Sinatra Suite during the first day of a liquidation sale Thursday, May 14, 2015, at the Riviera. Sawchuck performs at Planet Hollywood. Launch slideshow »

Larry Fettis arrived around 6:30 a.m. to line up, and he said he was one of the first few dozen inside. He’s a retired police officer who lives in Southern California, but he said he also has a place in Las Vegas, so he was seeking decorations for his local residence.

“It’s like a big scavenger hunt,” he said of the liquidation sale. “But it is what it is — you’ve got to prioritize.”

Local resident Rhenita Quimby also showed up early and gladly secured a hotel phone, which she wanted for her home office. She said she liked the idea of holding onto a piece of the hotel’s history.

“I’m tickled pink,” she said while sitting near her purchases by the hotel registration desk.

Those who swarmed to the Riviera today still had “a lot left” to choose from after the ex-employees swung by Wednesday, said Greg Hall, operations manager of National Content Liquidators, which is handling the sale.

The following 15 items offer a glimpse of the range that was still available Thursday morning.

Riviera neon: $395

Buyers can’t take the hotel’s entire neon signage with them, but they could get a smaller version of the brand. This classic sign was located toward the casino's southern end, near a box office.

A Riviera neon sign ($395.00) is shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

A Riviera neon sign ($395.00) is shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Chandelier: $3,500

Hanging over the casino floor, this chandelier wasn’t the only big chandelier up for grabs — the multilayered one in the lobby also had price tags on it. But this one looks like a more manageable acquisition.

A chandelier ($3,500.00) is shown over the casino floor during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

A chandelier ($3,500.00) is shown over the casino floor during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

‘Crazy Girls’ sign: $475

Although the much-photographed statue that stood outside the Riviera was taken away when the hotel closed last week, other images with the same iconography remained inside.

An illuminated "Crazy Girls" sign ($475) is shown during the first day of a liquidation sale Thursday, May 14, 2015, at the Riviera.

An illuminated "Crazy Girls" sign ($475) is shown during the first day of a liquidation sale Thursday, May 14, 2015, at the Riviera.

Gold drape: $4,000

It’s probably not the most practical purchase for the casual buyer, but this 48-foot gold drape hung above a stage behind the casino bar.

A 48-foot gold drape ($4,000.00) is shown in Le Bistro Theater during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

A 48-foot gold drape ($4,000.00) is shown in Le Bistro Theater during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Craps table: $3,850

The slot machines are all gone, but on Thursday morning there were some good tables to choose from. People were eyeing them closely.

Lamar Hutch of Conyers, Ga. looks over a craps table ($3,850.00) during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Lamar Hutch of Conyers, Ga. looks over a craps table ($3,850.00) during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Room: varying

Samples by the registration desk indicated that king-size beds cost $99 and armchairs with ottomans cost $55. Art prints, meanwhile, cost just $8, according to the sample listing.

A hotel room is shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

A hotel room is shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Televisions: $89

These 32-inch, flat-screen televisions were in such abundance that an entire room was dedicated to selling them.

Flat panel televisions ($89.00) are shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Flat panel televisions ($89.00) are shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Vacuums: $75

Not the most iconic item from the Riviera, to be sure. Practical, though, and widely available.

Vacuum cleaners ($75.00 each) are displayed in a convention center ballroom during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Vacuum cleaners ($75.00 each) are displayed in a convention center ballroom during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Armchair: $110

These comfy chairs were clustered by what used to be the sports book.

Arm chairs ($110.00) from the sports book are shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Arm chairs ($110.00) from the sports book are shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Ticket redemption machine: $500

This would be one of the quirkier (or cooler?) purchases for the average Joe, since it doesn’t have an entire casino of slot machines to accompany it.

A ticket cashing/bill breaking machine s shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

A ticket cashing/bill breaking machine s shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Slot chair: $75

Another widely available option as of Thursday morning.

Slot chairs ($75 each) are shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera on Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Slot chairs ($75 each) are shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera on Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Portable bar: $345

Below the Riviera logo, the sign on the front says “The Entertainment Center of Las Vegas” and “The Alternative for Grown-Ups.”

Portable bar fronts ($345.00 each) are shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Portable bar fronts ($345.00 each) are shown during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Starlite chandelier: $1,750

One of multiple artsy elements for sale by the Starlite Theater.

A chandelier ($1,750.00) is shown by the Starlite Theater during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

A chandelier ($1,750.00) is shown by the Starlite Theater during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Theater seats: $675

Buyers were able to get their hands on the Versailles Theater’s red seats.

A row of seats ($675.00) is shown in the Versailles Theater  during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

A row of seats ($675.00) is shown in the Versailles Theater during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

Piano: $5,500

It’s not every day you find for sale a musical instrument that was once housed in a 60-year-old classic Las Vegas casino famous for the many entertainers who performed there over the years.

A piano ($5,500.00) is displayed during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

A piano ($5,500.00) is displayed during the first day of a liquidation sale at the Riviera Thursday, May 14, 2015.

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