There are all sorts of lovably quirky places in Houston. One such place is Magic Island. Closed since 2008, the 22,000-square-foot, Egyptian-themed venue once staged all kinds of magic shows. This summer, the venue on the Southwest Freeway feeder road will come alive again, this time, as a private gambling event space complete with a retractable roof, disco room and ballroom, lounge, and more.
Magic Island shuttered back in 2008, following a fire brought on by Hurricane Ike. A Houston neurologist by the name of Mohammad Athari purchased the space in 2018 with the intention of reopening it later that year. Of course, with the pandemic, a few other factors, Athari had to postpone his plans.
This summer, Athari plans to reopen the space as an event space and private gambling club with blackjack, poker, and roulette.
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As for the event aspect, Athari has made a lot of moves to spruce up the interior. Features are set to include a 500-person disco dancing space and ballroom – with a retractable ceiling, Egyptian bar, outdoor patio, and grand piano.
The new Magic Island will also feature an outdoor patio complete with a retractable awning. This, general manager Michel Loneman, states was calculated to appeal to the younger generation:
“Most restaurants in this area are not facing the right way,” Loneman told the Houston Chronicle. “When it comes to engagements and special events, you’ll get a lot of great pictures because of the sunset. Plus, when you’re coming down the freeway, there’s no better form of advertising than to look over and see people dancing and having fun.”
As for gambling, players will be able to do so in a discreet room inside the facility. As the Houston Chronicle pointed out in their article, gambling laws in Texas are somewhat iffy.
The law states in Section 47 of the Texas Penal Code that businesses and individuals are prohibited from securing economic gain from gambling profits save for personal winnings. However, numerous private gambling institutions have opened in Texas over the years under the loophole of charging membership fees.
“We’re a private club, so having private members, different rules apply,” Loneman stated. “That doesn’t mean we won’t serve the general public, because we will. But if you’re a member of the Black Club at Magic Island, there are different laws that apply to you. You know, kind of like a teenage daughter who wants to drink wine with the family.”
The planned opening date is set for this summer. According to Houston Chronicle, some 80% of the interior is finished.