Fans of Margaritaville will no longer have to travel outside of Atlantic City to enjoy the Jimmy Buffett experience.
By next spring, Margaritaville will not only have a new restaurant location in Atlantic City, but Resorts Casino Hotel will be themed in Margaritaville style to make it the only casino themed as a Margaritaville experience on the East Coast.
Construction is expected to begin in the fall with a May 2013 opening.
“Our investment coupled with the Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville brand is a huge coup for Atlantic City and I am extremely proud to say it was Resorts and the state of New Jersey that made it happen,” says Morris Bailey, owner of Resorts Casino Hotel.
“This is easily one of the biggest things to happen to Atlantic City since the inception of gaming in 1978,” adds Aaron Gomes, executive vice president of operations at Resorts Casino Hotel. “The Margaritaville and Jimmy Buffett brand is one of the most recognizable in the world and without a doubt will become the must-see attraction in Atlantic City.”
The complex will include the rebuilding of the former Steeplechase Pier across the Boardwalk from Resorts. The entire complex will feature a Margaritaville-themed casino, restaurant, Five O’clock Somewhere Bar, retail stores, LandShark Bar and Grill, a year-round beach bar complex and the first Margaritaville coffee shop. Additionally, Resorts Boardwalk façade will be re-themed with the Margaritaville brand.
“It is certainly no surprise to me that a huge flock of Parrotheads reside on the Jersey Shore,” says Jimmy Buffett, “I am very grateful for the years of support from some of our most die-hard fans in the country. Atlantic City is a historic beach town and I am very happy to be a part of helping it find its place again as a beach vacation destination. I’ll see you on the Shore.”
Buffett, by the way, returns to Atlantic City with an Aug. 4 performance at Boardwalk Hall.
A press release described Margaritaville: “The atmosphere is inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of Jimmy Buffett, whose evocative songs inspire a cross-generational yearning for an island adventure. Comprised of retail shops, restaurants, consumer products, hotels, casinos, and even a national radio station on Sirius/XM, Margaritaville delivers a tropical experience where guests can enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of their favorite destination regardless of their current latitude. Since launching its first location in Key West, Margaritaville has expanded to some of the most popular U.S. destinations, including: New Orleans, Orlando, Las Vegas, Myrtle Beach, Panama City Beach, Glendale, Mohegan Sun Casino, Nashville and Jimmy Buffett’s at The Beachcomber in Honolulu, Hawaii. Margaritaville Casinos can be found at the famed Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas; Biloxi, Mississippi opened in May 2012 and Bossier City, Louisiana scheduled to open in 2013. International locations can be found in the Caribbean, Mexico, the Republic of Panama and Canada with Australia coming soon. The Margaritaville Beach Hotel in Pensacola Beach, Florida opened in July 2010.”
