Friends Enrique Baria and Arnold Domingo spent more than a decade mixing drinks at The Mirage’s Center Bar. But in recent weeks, they’ve found themselves in a new setting: an industrial kitchen.

It’s a change from their usual work space, but Baria and Domingo said the resort’s closure after 34 years came at the right time for them to consider different career paths.

“That’s the time when I decided, what can I do next? I decided I’m turning 60 this year,” said Baria, who began working at The Mirage in 1998. “I figured there’s not a lot of casinos hiring a 60-year-old bartender. There were a lot of options for us, so I decided I want to be a cook. Me and my friend decided we’re going to be useful around the house and get a job at the same time.”

Please fill out the form to send a message to the CDC Gaming Reports team. Alternatively, you can send an email to the address on the footer of each page.