By Scott Cronick
Pound for pound, is there a better dining, enterainment and gaming destination in Atlantic City than the Tropicana Atlantic City?
Since The Quarter debuted at the Trop in 2004, offering a $280 million, Havana-themed retail and dining destination accompanied by a 502-room hotel tower expansion, Atlantic City has never been the same.
With anchors like Carmine’s, Cuba Libre, The Palm, P.F. Chang’s, Planet Rose karaoke bar, A Dam Good Sports Bar, an IMAX theater, and a bunch of great retail options, The Quarter has become one of the biggest tourist destinations in Atlantic City history.
Combined with other offerings inside the Tropicana, including Il Verdi, Chelsea 5 Gastropub, Ossu Japanese Tavern, Chickie’s and Pete’s, Gilchrist Restaurant, Golden Dynasty, Boogie Nights and boardwalk-level spots like Hash House A Go Go, Casa Taco & Tequila and Hooters, the Tropicana is an entertainment, dining and retail powerhouse unlike any other in the city.
Well folks, things just got even more exciting inside The Quarter as The Royce Social Hall recently opened its doors in the former Providence space, offering something new, fresh, different and – most importantly – fun!
What is The Royce?
The Royce Social Hall is like a one-stop nightlife destination that offers a little something for eveyrone.
Live music? Check.
DJs? Check.
Food? Check.
Bowling, foosball, ping pong, shuffleboard? Check, check, check, check!
“It’s a unique concept where it caters to all demographics, and that’s what makes it different,” said Zach Seidman of Fame Hospitality, which is working with The Royce ownership to promote, market and program the experience. “You can be interested in anything and everything, but you can always find something you like when you are inside The Royce, whether it’s entertianment, interactive games, signature cocktails, DJs and live music. There’s something for everyone who steps inside The Royce to be entertained. The slogan is drink, play, be social … and that’s what we want people to do when they are here.”
The Royce, a state-of-the-art entertainment destination, will succeed because it offers tremendous diversity and something for everyone of all ages. If you want to hear live music from the best bands the tri-state area has to offer, The Royce does that from 9 p.m. to midnight on weekends, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursdays and Sundays. The same goes for DJs, which kick in after the bands unplug their amps.
While listening, guests can compete in all of the games above – the mini bowling lanes are a particular blast – or popular box games like Jenga and Connect 4 to keep things … social! There’s even one of the largest foosball tables in the country overlooking the palm trees and The Quarter.
“The Social Club concept has really developed over the past several years and started with nightclubs becoming too intimdiating,” said Frank Catrambone, owner of Fame Hospitality. “The cost of entry became so high … bottle service in Las Vegas is $5,000 to $10,000 to sit down at a table. So, over the last several years, sports and games were incorporated to make it a litle more relaxed atmosphere. You take way the things that make nightclubs imposing and then involve things that people know andlove like sports and games, and you create something new and different. We are seeing places like this pop up all over the country.”
If you want to guarantee a ping pong table, bowling lane or private seating area, reservations are highly suggested. Just go to The RoyceAC.com and reserve them by the hour. Once they are reserved, guests will be provided a food and beverage minimum spend during that time period and asked to confirm their reservation.
“The bowling lanes are the most things in demand,” Seidman said. “But we also have about 10 picnic tables on the dance floor where people can play water – or beer – pong, and those fill up quickly. It’s a fun place whether you are there to play interactive games or just want to dance on our huge dance floor. We get a huge draw from bachelor and bachelorette parties … we are the perfect spot for that kind of stuff.”
The Music
Catrambone and Seidman certainly know a few things about booking great music. Both have worked at and/or promoted for the biggest and best showrooms and clubs in Atlantic City and around the country.
And they are pulling no stops at The Royce.
Last weekend, the incredible Triple Rail Turn featuring two stunning female leads – one who played the electric fiddle – had the entire place jumping. Upcoming bands include Laura Lea and Tripp Fabulous on Friday, Aug. 11; Hunka Junk on Saturday, Aug. 12; The Amish Outlaws on Thursday, Aug. 24; the Fuzzy Bunny Slippers on Saturday, Aug. 26; ’80s Night with M-80 on Friday, Sept. 15; the Sensational Soul Cruisers on Friday, Sept. 29; and some big surprises that will soon be announced for Halloween.
And anyone who knows the DJ world will appreciate the lineup that Fame management will constantly rotate.
But The Royce is careful to not call itself a nightclub. Its ownership already possesses Kiss Kiss Nightclub, plus Boogie Nights and Anthem already exist at the Trop, so they don’t want to compete with themselves or others.
And they are right when they say The Royce is different.
“I think we find that The Royce concept was more all inclusive than your average nightclub,” Catrambone said “It gives everyone something to do. It doesn’t have that intimidation of a nightclub that typically draws a younger demographic. Inside the Tropicana, they have some older clientele, so we are telling them and everyone else to come in and relax with shorts on, play some games and listen to great bands. And then as the night goes on, it becomes more of a nightclub with DJs, but it’s a nightlcub for people who don’t really like to go to nightclubs … if that makes sense.”
It does.
Food and Drinks
The cocktails are an attraction themselves.
Yes, you can order any drink or grab a beer, but if you are feeling adventurous and – yes, social – partake in some of the oversized, whimsical offerings The Royce staff has concocted.
Whether you’re sitting in the comfortable, more private area featuring plush couches and chairs and stylish accents including modern chandeliers or at one of the many picnic tables around The Royce, don’t sleep on the killer specialty cocktails.
Signature cocktials include the Life Saver with Three Olives Berry Vodka, Peach Schnapps, sour and Life Saver candy; the Dum Dum with Tito’s Vodka, Sour Apple Schnapps and lemon lime soda; and the Cadillac Margarita with Casamigos Reposado, Tequila Orange Liqueur, orange juice and lime juice.
But if you really want to have fun, check out cocktails in the 44-ounce martini glass ($40), the 48-ounce cowboy hat ($50) and the 96-ounce copper mug ($90).
Food, of course, is a major part of The Royce, and while it has its own full-service kitchen to cater private parties and special events, The Royce is using its sister property, Wild Honey Smokehouse and Tavern, which is right next door, for its current food offerings until The Royce develops its own menu eventually.
Royce customers can feast on some killer BBQ from a best-of Wild Honey menu that is offered, including wings, an onion ring tower, sliders served on biscuits, and BBQ favorites like brisket, pulled pork, rubs and more.
“Football will be a huge part of what we do in the fall, and what goes better with football and beer than barbecue,” Seidman said. “People will be able to come in here and watch football, eat barbecue, drink, listen to live music and play Ping-Pong or go bowling.”
The Royce’s evolution
The Royce is only about a month old, but the concept is already seeing nice crowds and will definitely be a major hit in Atlantic City when the word spreads.
Future plans include the evolution of gaming to include everything from football simulations to cornhole and pinball, as well as the redesign and construction of the its mezzanine, a once beautiful spot in Providence that overlooks the stage.
“We definitely want to reintroduce that mezzanine to people and have some even bigger bands that people can watch from both floors,” Seidman said. “The concept is to drink, play and be social, and we are going to stick to that and not intimidate anyone by telling them what they can wear or what music they should listen to. It’s open arms for anyone who comes to the Tropicana and Atlantic City.”
The Royce Social Hall is open 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursdays to Sundays inside The Quarter at the Tropicana Atlantic City. Go to
Scott Cronick is an award-winning journalist who has written about entertainment, food, news and more in South Jersey for nearly three decades. He hosts a daily radio show – “Off The Press with Scott Cronick” – 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays on Newstalk WOND 1400-AM, 92.3-FM, and WONDRadio.com, and he also co-owns Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City, while working on various projects, including charitable efforts, throughout the area. He can be reached at scronick@comcast.net.
