"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Coming to Cherokee Casino Resort!

"Cherokee Chief Chad Smith, former Chief Wilma Mankiller, Toby Keith and CNE's CEO David Stewart, immediately following the announcement of the newest Toby Keith's
I Love This Bar and Grill."

TULSA, OKLAHOMA - Country superstar Toby Keith and officials from Cherokee Casino Resort announced today the fourth installment of the popular restaurant, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill, coming to Cherokee Casino Resort. Currently in the design phase, construction will begin in November. The bar and grill will encompass approximately 10,000 square feet with seating for about 400 people. The restaurant will open when Cherokee Casino Resort’s $125 million expansion is complete in late 2008.

“We always strive to provide our guests with the best service and entertainment experience that we can,” said David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Enterprises, which operates Cherokee Casinos. “We brought poker champion Scotty Nguyen and Orange County Choppers here to Tulsa, and our upcoming expansion will provide even more amenities that you can only find at Cherokee Casino Resort. Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar and Grill is just one of the amenities you won’t find at any other casino in the state.”

Breaking ground this summer, Cherokee Casino Resort’s new 334,000 square foot facility will include a 21-story hotel tower with 200 executive suites, a restaurant and club overlooking Tulsa, events center and expanded gaming floor. Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill will connect directly to the events center, giving diners added convenience.

“It’s a first-class operation, first-class casino, first-class resort and first-class golf course,” Keith said. “We really checked it out and decided this is the best place for our second restaurant in Oklahoma. We’re really honored to be here and looking forward to coming up here and having a cold one with all you Tulsans.”

As with the three existing Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grills, this laid back honky-tonk will combine food and fun with its own entertainment venue. Named after one if his most popular country songs, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill will have a stage for country artists to perform, as well as a dance floor where guests can kick up their heels. Dancers who work up a good thirst can count on multiple bars to order up their favorite ice-cold beers.

Don’t let the entertainment distract from the food, though. All of Toby’s favorite foods will be served up for all to enjoy-even those not fortunate enough to call themselves Okies. The menu will include the Keith household staple, steak and potatoes, along with chicken fried steak, freedom fries, BBQ ribs and many, many other delicious foods that we all grew up loving.

The first Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill debuted in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown in 2005 and restaurants at Harrah’s Las Vegas and Harrah’s Kansas City have followed.

“We want to give the one in Tulsa its own identity,” Keith said. “Cherokee Casino Resort is an expanding operation, so to be one of the gems in the crown of this operation is a big honor.”

Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill is a partnership with well-established restaurateur Hal Smith. Smith is the owner of Oklahoma favorites such as Charleston’s, Mahogany, Red Rock Canyon, Coach’s and many others.

“We have about 45 restaurants in seven states and Tulsa is absolutely our best market,” Smith said. “This is a hot, hot market. You guys like to go out to eat, have fun and have your glass of wine and bottle of beer. We want to give you the best experience possible and we plan on doing it better with Toby’s I Love This Bar and Grill at Cherokee Casino Resort.”

Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill at Cherokee Casino Resort will employ approximately 70-80 people.