was, now that skimming was no longer being practiced there. The Boyds introduced a personal style of customer service. According to Bill Boyd, "When we took over the dealers weren't even allowed to talk to customers. We're more of a family-type company." Steve Wynn's new Mirage resort was opened in 1989. It marked the start of a building boom on the Las Vegas Strip, creating new competition for the Stardust. A 32-story hotel tower was added to the Stardust in 1990, and the resort saw its highest revenue in the mid-1990s, after the completion of the tower. A robbery occurred at the Stardust in 1992, when two men used smoke bombs to steal $1.1 million from a guard, who was bringing the money to an armored truck. A former Stardust security guard was later arrested in connection with the robbery. Later in 1992, a Stardust sportsbook cashier covertly managed to steal $225,000 in cash and casino chips; he disappeared and was never apprehended by authorities. A lengthy dispute, between the Stardust and a carpenters trade union, was settled in 1998. The Stardust carpenters had gone 11 years without a raise, and the National Labor Relations Board eventually filed a complaint against Boyd Gaming, which ultimately agreed to provide raises for the employees. A murder occurred in the sportsbook in 2000, when one man shot another. The suspect, who was ultimately convicted of the murder, claimed that the victim was a mob enforcer sent to kill him. In the late 1990s, Boyd Gaming delayed plans to redevelop the Stardust property, choosing instead to focus on its Borgata hotel-casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Stardust experienced weak revenue during 2001, and approximately 200 employees were laid off. The resort suffered further due to the economic impact of the September 11 attacks. In 2002, new projects were underway in the area around the Stardust, including a new resort by Wynn. As a result, Boyd Gaming announced that it was considering the construction of a new resort to replace the Stardust, although such plans were still years away from happening. The Stardust celebrated its 45th anniversary in July 2003. Past entertainers at the resort were invited as VIPs for a celebration held there, and a time capsule was created for Stardust memorabilia. A new cocktail was also created and served at the Stardust to commemorate the anniversary. Bill Boyd said that the Stardust