Two of Rochester's nonprofit "animals," Flamingo Bingoand the Elks Lodge 1091, are looking to possibly move in together in early 2014.
Both organizations have generally agreed on a plan to have Flamingo Bingo move into the Elk's large Lodge Room at 1652 U.S. 52 North in the Hillcrest Shopping Center.
However, no lease has been signed yet. The proposed project is subject to the final approval from the state, which is needed before anything happens.
"Both organizations are very excited about this," says Deb Nusbaum, Flaming Bingo's charitable gaming manager. "We anticipate that we'll eventually be moving there, but there are a lot of details to work through yet with the Minnesota Gambling Control Board."
Flamingo Bingo, which raises money for the Rochester Senior Center, has called games at 2828 U.S. 52 North since it opened in 2007. It is now looking for a new home due to coming changes to its building, which previously housed Circus Worldbingo.
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Nusbaum stressed that Flamingo Bingo is open for business at its current spot along U.S. 52 North and will remain so until it moves, probably in early 2014.
Flamingo Bingo's fund raising efforts are "critical" to supporting the Rochester Senior Center, she says. It's annual financial goal, which it met in 2012, is to raise at least $100,000 for the senior center, according to Nusbaum. The bingo parlor has 16 employees on staff.
For their part, the Elks members see a lot of benefits in bringing Flamingo Bingo into its facility.
"It's multi-faceted for us," says Chris Holloway, the current club president. "We have an excess of space that we don't use on a daily basis. We're both charitable organizations. There's a lot of crossover in our clientele. Plus it brings in additional revenue."
