Jimmy Buffett’s latest Margaritaville opens in Atlantic City on Friday, just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
The $35 million project, inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of Buffett’s ode to beach bums, will include a Margaritaville restaurant, Five o’Clock Somewhere bar, themed gaming area, two retail stores and a coffee shop, all on the property’s land side of the Boardwalk. On the other side of the Boardwalk, the LandShark Bar & Grill will be situated on 200 feet of beach frontage at the site of the old Steeplechase Pier. It will be the only year-round, full-service bar and restaurant on the beach.
Over on the casino side, visitors won’t be able to miss the 14,000-square-foot Margaritaville restaurant. The eatery, with room for nearly 450 diners, will feature a giant blender at the entrance as well as a stage for nightly entertainment, a tiki bar and a seasonal exterior deck. The tropical décor will also include “sand on the ground, floors painted to look like water and replicas of seagulls flying around,” Tamara Baldanza, director of new business for Margaritaville, says.
In a nod to Atlantic City history, she adds, “surfing artifacts also will be sprinkled throughout the restaurant. Whenever we come into a community or a city, we like to incorporate the local culture.” Just around the corner from the restaurant will be the Margaritaville-themed gaming area offering 160 slot machines. The Five o’Clock Somewhere bar will be adjacent to the brand’s themed table games and will feature “flair bartenders” such as those in the Tom Cruise movie “Cocktail,” he says. “It’s a beautiful center bar on the casino floor,” he adds. “It’s going to be a really fun place.” Which is what Margaritaville is all about. “We’re excited about being part of the Atlantic City community,” Baldanza says. “We are honored to be moving into the neighborhood.”