87-year-old businessman Josep Perelló says he's been given a new lease of life by having bought the old Bingo Balear in Palma for 2.4 million euros. His plan is to convert it into a café-theatre, possibly with a restaurant. He is currently processing the permits with the town hall and hoping that he will be allowed to proceed with this venture.
"The engineers have come and told us there wouldn't be any problem turning it into a café-theatre. Who knows, maybe there could also be a cinema or a restaurant."
The building, which dates from 1909, has been unused for ten years. But considerable work was carried. The investors who had sought to convert the bingo hall into a casino spent an estimated twelve million euros. The casino never opened its doors because it lacked the necessary permits; the courts finally killed it off.
The interior is extraordinary, as so much had been done in preparation for opening as a casino. There are tables for roulette, blackjack, and poker as well as electronic bingo boards and slot machines featuring Egyptian sphinxes and zombies. There are thirty surveillance cameras and a security strongroom. Blue leather chairs bear the legend 'Casino Bingo Balear'. It is the casino that never existed, yet gives the impression of having been.
"Everything is brand new," notes Perelló, although a technician points out that the computer systems run on Windows 7. Perelló doesn’t intend undertaking a major renovation. Why would he? The premises are in excellent condition.