Michael Jordan's Steakhouse to close Sunday at ilani; casino plans for replacement
After nine years giving high rollers the MVP treatment, an anchor restaurant at ilani Casino will serve its final steak this weekend.
Michael Jordan's Steak House will close after dinner service on Sunday, according to a release from the casino located on the Cowlitz Reservation.
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The restaurant opened in April 2017, according to Daily News archives, and was among the casino and event center's earliest restaurant partnerships.
Josh Zadikoff is the CEO of Cornerstone Restaurant Group, a Chicago-based firm that handled the restaurant's operations and licensing and facilitated the partnership with the tribe.
"From the beginning, this partnership reflected a shared commitment to heartfelt hospitality and memorable guest experiences, helping set a standard of excellence that became part of ilani's foundation," Zadikoff said in a statement. "We're grateful to the ilani team and the guests who made this chapter so meaningful."
New steakhouse opens next month
In its place, the tribe is opening its own steakhouse called Sovereign. The casino says it will open in early May.
ilani president and general manager Kara Fox LaRose said in the release that the new establishment seeks to offer the same standards as its predecessor while also "bringing forward a dining experience that is both elevated and deeply rooted in cultural connection, sustainability and respect."
"We are grateful for our shared purpose and consider the legendary steak house an inspiration as we continue our quest to grow and to delight our guests on every visit," LaRose said in the release.
Sovereign will "define the modern steakhouse experience" and take Michael Jordan Steak House's place while the tribe follows a "natural evolution" toward owning its own restaurant, according to the tribe.
Sovereign steakhouse interior
The new Sovereign steakhouse at ilani will provide an atmosphere described as "contemporary casual" and promises to be "the perfect setting for celebrations and elevated weekday dining."
The restaurant will feature USDA Choice and Prime cuts and regional Wagyu offerings, along with a menu that offers "coastal flair" and "artisanal indulgence." The restaurant's atmosphere will be "contemporary casual," with strong hospitality.
Bill Iyall, Chairman of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, described the new steakhouse as emblematic of the tribe's drive to invest in its future and create opportunities that strengthen the community.
"It also gives us a wonderful chance to welcome guests and share the story in a way that is uniquely Cowlitz," Iyall said.
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