Eventually, Weaver’s youngest son got a job at the casino as an environmental specialist. Employees at the time were called cast members, a nod to MGM’s history in Hollywood, and she says the vibe in the early days was very much family-oriented. “It was really cool to see all the slot machines and it had that Vegas feel, but it also had a Hollywood feel, because we were dealing with MGM Grand.”Īfter much anticipation, the opening of the casinos - MGM and Motor City Casino opened in 1999, while Greektown Casino (now Hollywood Casino at Greektown) - felt like a new chapter for the city.

“I remember when we opened up in ’99 at MGM, the line literally was around the corner, people were excited and waiting to get into doors,” says Weaver. She had previously been training to work as a dental surgical assistant, but the allure of getting in on the action in a brand new Detroit industry that would allow her to work with the public made applying for a casino job appealing. Alicia Weaver still remembers the excitement of her first day on the job as a guest room attendant at the MGM Grand Casino.

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