Views from the Shore
By Brian Cahill
As a former casino marketer, I still find the AC gaming industry to be a fascinating one, specifically from a marketing standpoint. No matter in which casino my office was, it was always a challenge to try and come up with something different so we would stand out among the others.
When I saw the approach Ocean Casino Resort was taking for their 5th birthday celebration, I could not help but admire what they are doing, and I tip my cap to their creativity, sincerity, and sense of community.
What Ocean is doing for their 5th birthday is to make it a celebration of the AC Arts, business and local community. Their new Birthday Bar Pop-up Experience debuts on Friday, June 30, featuring whimsical décor and creative cocktails along with a few very special celebrity appearances throughout the summer. The property’s brand-new wine and spirits outlet, Bottled, will double as a pop-up retail shop presenting bespoke merchandise from local partners Jetty Ink and Candier By Ryan Porter as well as offering homegrown favorites like Sea Isle Spiked Iced Tea and Little Water Distillery.
Ocean has also partnered with the Atlantic City Arts Foundation to create a mural depicting Ocean’s 5th Birthday that includes elements from the surrounding Atlantic Ocean and native sea life that inhabit the area. The three-paneled casino-themed mural will be located at Tennessee Ave Beer Hall.
“Ocean’s success helps smaller businesses like ours thrive, and their commitment to showcasing Tennessee Avenue’s offerings – while also contributing to the arts community – shows their selfless and collaborative nature,” said Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall Co-Owner Scott Cronick.
Along with Tennessee Ave Beer Hall, Ocean is partnering with the following local businesses and organizations throughout the summer: The Seed: A Living Beer Project, Hank Sauce, Rhythm & Spirits, Bar 32, Little Water Distillery, and Tony Boloney’s.
In addition, Ocean has commissioned MudGirls Studios to create customized one-of-kind hand-made clay art pieces that will be displayed throughout the property including Ocean hotel rooms. MudGirls Studios is a non-profit clay studio that empowers and employs at-risk, homeless and formerly incarcerated women to create ceramic artwork in studio space in the heart of Atlantic City. MudGirls Studios helps women transition onto a pathway towards self-sufficiency and out of poverty using clay as our vehicle to change lives through their own creations and sales of functional art and architectural tiles.
Ocean is also presenting fireworks every Friday in July, starting on July 7 with a spectacular Fireworks and Drone Show. Starting the weekends in July with Fireworks is the perfect way to bring the local community and summer visitors together. Kudos to Ocean for making that investment, and for everything they are doing to make their 5th Birthday a true community celebration.
Brian Cahill is a former marketing director in the Atlantic City casino industry. He is on the Board of the Somers Point Business Association and is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at Stockton University.
