What Do You Think An Honest Future Of Atlantic City Is? (Union: rental, hotels)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
AC could go either way at this point. I was there this week and did notice far less mentally disturbed people on the boardwalk and felt a little safer (at least in tourist areas). I also noticed Pacific Ave didn't seem to have all those "crack streetwalkers" who were there in high numbers pre pandemic while riding the Jitney. However, the area near the 7-11 and Kelseys Restaurant still didnt feel safe to me when I popped in there to buy water. But, I definitely noticed progress when it comes to crime and safety along the boardwalk and somewhat one block over.
On the business perspective, I was shocked just about every bar and restaurant on the Resorts side (excluding Irish Pub) were closed by 10pm (and this is now summer). I spoke to a local who told me Picallili Pub is looking sell if they can find a buyer. (Not sure how credible he was) But, businesses seemed much slower on that end of town compared to the Tropicana side. I remember just before COVID, they had plans to completely change Tennesse Ave and build several new restaurants, bars, and stores. Well, it seems that fell through. The city is definitely struggling, (even as we enter its typically busiest months). Another thing I noticed was that casino bars such as Dam Good Sports Bar were totally dead on a Thursday night. My uncle and I were the only customers watching the Philies game. People are just not spending the ridiculous $8 to $9 on a domestic beer in a casino. Therefore these places will struggle and wouldn't surprise me if half the casinos close down in the next couple of years if they don't seriously change their business models.
It could really go either way at this point....either everything collapses in the next 2-3 years and it turns into a ghost town with nothing but shuttered casinos and businesses OR they smarten up, start offering REAL inventives, sales, and discounts to lure people back in. I will say that even though we are approaching July 4th, I was shocked to see there were no lines to get into places like Landshark or Wet Willies as there were in past summers. Investing in property there is definitely a "gamble".
I predict crime may start declining there, but also businesses will too. As much as I love AC now, I doubt I'll have much reason to go back in 3-5 years from now. I hope I am wrong.
I think online gaming has really hurt in terms of numbers going down in person. I agree a new business model is needed but I don’t know what it is. I thought Revel had the right idea, an adult resort that stood alone as a destination even without gambling and I was shocked it didn’t work. I don’t really know what would bring people down.
I would lean toward 'staying about the same', rather than hoping for an Asbury-like resurgence. Part of the issue is the physical casino structures themselves (an obstacle Asbury didn't need to deal with), part is the economy (or lack thereof). If you can find a way to squeeze over the Ventnor city line, I think you'd be in a much better spot. I'd think Seaside Heights would be a much safer bet to turn around, but prices are already up quite a bit there from where they were.
We actually were looking at places in Margate and Ventnor when COVID hit, but dragged our feet too long and now wouldn't/couldn't take the bait with what places are selling for. But in early 2020 you could still get a decent 3/2 walkable to the beach in the 400's. Those days are long gone as the market has basically gone up 2x since then.
I came to Atlantic City for a couple of days this week and noticed the construction of an indoor/outdoor water park in front of where Showboat used to be. Didn’t see this discussed on here. I know it’ll take a lot more to improve the city but it’s encouraging that investments like this are being made
I came to Atlantic City for a couple of days this week and noticed the construction of an indoor/outdoor water park in front of where Showboat used to be. Didn’t see this discussed on here. I know it’ll take a lot more to improve the city but it’s encouraging that investments like this are being made
Yeah, it will take much more than a Waterpark (which will probably be unaffordable for the average person anyway) to jumpstart Atlantic City. Like I mentioned earlier, casinos need to change their business models completely with much better offers, lower resort fees, better incentives, etc.. to get more people to go down. I normally go the last week of Aug, but I have no incentive to go. No deals, discounts, or even a free show or meal offer. If I really wanted to gamble, I can do it on my phone. I do not have any faith in these idiot casino owners. I hope I am wrong though.
Yeah, it will take much more than a Waterpark (which will probably be unaffordable for the average person anyway) to jumpstart Atlantic City. Like I mentioned earlier, casinos need to change their business models completely with much better offers, lower resort fees, better incentives, etc.. to get more people to go down. I normally go the last week of Aug, but I have no incentive to go. No deals, discounts, or even a free show or meal offer. If I really wanted to gamble, I can do it on my phone. I do not have any faith in these idiot casino owners. I hope I am wrong though.
Making things cheaper is usually not the blueprint for improvement. People will pay premium $$$ for a premium experience. There are probably exceptions, of course.
Making things cheaper is usually not the blueprint for improvement. People will pay premium $$$ for a premium experience. There are probably exceptions, of course.
Everywhere I go, the cheaper places are places that are packed. The expensive ones go out of business. In AC, cheaper bars like Tonys are packed. Expensive bars in casinos are empty.
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
9,777 posts, read 15,781,748 times
Reputation: 10886
Quote:
Originally Posted by njrebel1978
Everywhere I go, the cheaper places are places that are packed. The expensive ones go out of business. In AC, cheaper bars like Tonys are packed. Expensive bars in casinos are empty.
When you say Tony's, do you mean Tony's Baltimore Grill? If so, we used to go there for dinner when I was a kid - in the 1970s. I loved that place! I cannot believe it's still around, but I just looked it up, and they are on Facebook. Crazy!
When you say Tony's, do you mean Tony's Baltimore Grill? If so, we used to go there for dinner when I was a kid - in the 1970s. I loved that place! I cannot believe it's still around, but I just looked it up, and they are on Facebook. Crazy!
Yes! They're still there. Sadly their main cook recently passed away according to their FB page. But, still going strong.
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
9,777 posts, read 15,781,748 times
Reputation: 10886
Quote:
Originally Posted by njrebel1978
Yes! They're still there. Sadly their main cook recently passed away according to their FB page. But, still going strong.
That is so crazy! I saw that on their FB page about their cook - so sad. I have so many happy memories of eating there - over 40 years ago! My dad wasn't much of a drinker, but every time we went to Tony's, he'd get a beer. When I asked him why, he said it was the same price as a soda! At the time it was something like 95 cents! We went there a lot, probably into the 1980s. Thanks for the info.
I think online gaming has really hurt in terms of numbers going down in person. I agree a new business model is needed but I don’t know what it is. I thought Revel had the right idea, an adult resort that stood alone as a destination even without gambling and I was shocked it didn’t work. I don’t really know what would bring people down.
I went to see the Revel with my 14 yr. old niece the first week it opened. I left her on the couch in the lobby (near security) while I went up the escalator to get a casino membership card. I come back down and my niece isn't in the lobby, the security guards threw her and other people waiting in the lobby out of the building! She was so scared being outside alone and told me people were arguing with security for making them leave. Needless to say, with their $25 and up slot machines and the horrible way they treated a child by putting her in possible danger outside their casino I never stepped inside that casino again.
The way things are going the OP is probably better off getting cheap AC hotel rooms rather than buying property.
I agree with you, with online gambling and the younger people not interested in casino gambling like the older folks were, AC will continue to be hurt.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
At the time it was something like 95 cents! We went there a lot, probably into the 1980s. Thanks for the info.
