If you live in Atlantic County, Tropicana Atlantic City wants you.
Recently, the almost-45-year-old pleasure dome — today the only casino located in the Chelsea district — inaugurated a new marketing scheme targeted at folks who live closest to it. The “Tropicana Loves Locals” campaign is exclusive to Atlantic County residents and offers them discounts and perks unavailable to those who live outside those boundaries.
Among them are:
*Fifteen percent off hotel stays on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
*Savings on dining at various eateries including Noodle Bar (15% off), Carmine’s; (20% off), A’Dam Good Sports Bar & Grill (15% off along with $7 specials); Chickie’s & Pete’s (15% off) and Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar (Three-course meals for $39, or 20% off total bill).
*Savings at entertainment outlets including Boogie Nights (free admission every Thursday); IMAX Theatre (15 percent off tickets purchased at the box office); Atlantic City Comedy Club (20 percent ticket discount) and Escape AC Escape Rooms (10 percent off admission).
*Deals at stores located in The Quarter, the Havana-themed retail, dining and entertainment. These include A Time for Wine (20% off ); Diamond District (a weekly 15-percent discount on a specially selected piece of jewelry) and 10 percent off all regularly priced items at Aura, Hat Emporium and Step Up.
So why was the Trop, and not one of its two Caesars Entertainment siblings — Caesars Atlantic City and Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City — designated as the “locals” casino? According to the property’s top executive, part of the answer is logical: Location, location, location.
“It’s simple geography,” offered Trop senior vice-president and GM Gregg Klein. “We’re the closest casino to Margate, Ventnor, all those shore towns.
“When you look at the real estate listings in Margate and Ventnor, I mean, these beach towns, they’re on fire. I remember when I first came to Atlantic City eight years ago, homes that were probably going for $1.1 or 1.2 million today cost $4 million. These towns are on fire, and we want to [be part of that].
“The second reason is that this building has a history of attracting locals.”
A third, Klein continued, is the Trop’s inventory of amenities, which is by far the largest of any gambling den in town. “We have everything in this building,” he bragged. “I keep being reminded daily that you can’t get bored of this building. It’s got over 20 different types of restaurants and all the stores and eight nightclubs, and it should appeal to locals.
“So, it’s the right place. There’s always something going on at Tropicana.”
While it’s certainly a smart addition to the Atlantic City gaming-industry realm, the Trop’s “Loves Locals” strategy is not unique. Other gaming halls — including the long-gone Atlantic City Hilton — have, at least temporarily, followed similar blueprints. But unlike Las Vegas, where the likes of Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Suncoast Hotel & Casino and those operating under the “Station” casinos banner have thrived for decades, Atlantic City has never had such an operation whose business plan is primarily predicated on attracting area residents. And, suggested Klein, no one should expect the Trop to go all-in on the concept.
“To be honest, time will tell,” he said. “But what I would say is that we’re committed to it. We’re not transforming the property; we didn’t say, ‘Okay, we’re no longer going after New Yorkers, or ‘We’re no longer interested in [high-stakes players].
“This is just something where we have all these amenities that should appeal to locals. So, we’re just marketing more to them. It’s just in addition to the property; we’re not changing our identity.”
For a complete rundown of “Tropicana Loves Locals offers, go to caesars.com/tropicana-ac/hotel/deals/loyal-locals.
Farnese and friends fab at Council Oak
The musical gods were definitely smiling down on me last Friday evening as serendipity put me in the lounge at Council Oaks Steaks & Seafood inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City while the Greg Farnese Trio was doing its thing for the dinner-hour crowd.
His first set proved Farnese (pronounced far-NAY-zee) clearly knows his way around a tune; his obvious respect for the material is such that he takes care to caress and wrap his voice around every note he sings, which results in an intimacy and sophistication that perfectly meshed with the space’s decidedly grown-up vibe.
Not surprisingly, Friday’s first set (I had to leave to catch that night’s Sound Waves performance by Penn & Teller) was filled with classic non-rock tunes including “The Look of Love,” “Quando, Quando, Quando” and “The Way You Look Tonight.” Each was delivered via a smooth-jazz format that is the perfect showcase for Farnese’s vocal stylings.
But the turn’s real unexpected gems were his reinvention of three numbers of more recent vintage: Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are,” the lightly swinging, lightly funky take on the Oasis signature “Wonderwall” and, best of all, “Wake Me When September Ends” by Green Day, which in the facile hands of Farnese became a lovely piece of balladry that wouldn’t sound out-of-place on a Frank Sinatra album from the 1950s.
Of course, Farnese doesn’t work alone, and much of the turn’s success was due to the marvelous work of his two accompanists. Pianist Jeff Knoettner’s understated-but-effective chord constructions perfectly colored the songs while bassist Lee W. Smith not only provided a rock-solid bottom, but also impressed with melodic solos that gave several songs unique twists.
The Greg Farnese Trio returns to the Council Oak lounge July 4 from 6-10 p.m. Don’t miss them!
Beach Ball Drop set for Resorts
What has become a summer-season-launch tradition returns tomorrow.
For the 12th consecutive year, Resorts Casino-Hotel will stage its Beach Ball Drop, which heralds the beginning of Our Town’s summer season. Some 5,000 vinyl orbs will be released on the Boardwalk at 5 p.m. The event will cap a five-hour program that will also feature contests, giveaways and music by the popular area show band, Sidestory. Admission is free.
Chuck Darrow has spent more than 40 years writing about Atlantic City casinos.
