99-cent Vegas shrimp special is history

LAS VEGAS, May 4 (UPI) -- A raise has finally been called on the 99-cent shrimp special at the Golden Gate hotel and casino in Las Vegas, hotel officials say.

Golden Gate officials said after nearly five decades of selling shrimp cocktails for 99 cents, the price has doubled to a whopping $1.99, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Sunday.

"It's certainly not a gasoline-type gouging we're going for here," said Scott DeAngelo, hotel vice president of gaming and marketing. "It remains a good value and it remains damn good."

Food and Beverage Director Michael Storm blamed the cost increase at Las Vegas' oldest hotel-casino on the rising cost of cold-water shrimp.

Since the 99-cent item was placed on the hotel's menu in 1959, the gambling site has sold more than 30 million shrimp cocktails.

For 86-year-old retired welding inspector Ben Norgress, a regular at the casino, the price increase was indicative of social changes.

"Everything has gone up. What can you do?" Norgress told the newspaper. "If I objected to any of it, I'd just stay home and die."