And some other familiar names in far away places
By William Sokolic
On mild days this time of year, Atlantic City Mercantile draws a pretty good crowd to stock up on various supplies and grab some fuel for the body with a near perfect steak and all the fixings.
Expect few such days in February. After all, this is Southwestern Wyoming, home to the other Atlantic City, the survivor of a trio of gold rush towns that sprung up in 1868, just as its namesake 2,000 miles due east enjoyed its early teenage years.
The Wyoming version of Atlantic City boasts around 36 year-round residents.
The question for anyone from New Jersey, New York or Pennsylvania is why does a small settlement in Wyoming bear the name Atlantic City? To borrow that oft-used saying from Realtors at the Jersey Shore: location, location, location.
Atlantic City, Wyo. lies adjacent to the Continental Divide; a kind of imaginary line which travels from near the Arctic Circle through the Panama Canal to the tip of Tierra Del Fuego.
West of the Divide water flow drains toward the Pacific Ocean. East of the Divide and it drains toward the Atlantic.
“Atlantic City is located near the Oregon/Mormon/California Trail, remarkably close to where emigrants crossed from the Atlantic drainage to the Pacific drainage. This was significant for those travelers and the name has its origins with them,” says Chad Baldwin, a spokesperson for the University of Wyoming.
According to the Wyoming Historical Society, Atlantic City got its name due to its location – drum roll please – just east of the Continental Divide, says Tia Troy, of Lightning Bug Public Relations.
Wyoming’s Atlantic City is not the only town that shares a name with one of Absecon Island’s four communities. There’s a Longport in the UK, a Margate in the UK and Florida, and a half dozen Ventnors all over the world. But Atlantic City, Wyoming might possess the biggest difference from its New Jersey counterpart.
Atlantic City, Wyo.
The Wyoming version draws nature buffs year-round and is a frequent stop for snowmobilers riding the Continental Divide Trail, or hiking the Oregon Trail.
Many hikers and bikers use Atlantic City as a hub to shower, do laundry, enjoy dinner and resupply before setting out on the trail, Troy says. “It offers visitors some unique things to do and explore nearby.”
Atlantic City Mercantile and the other popular restaurant, Miner’s Grubstake, are both open year-round, but not every day, Troy says. Mercantile is a historic general store and gathering place which has served the community since the 19th century. Originally established to supply miners and settlers, the Mercantile preserves its rustic charm and historical significance. Visitors can explore its vintage goods, learn some history and enjoy a steak dinner.
Want something less expensive? Miner’s Grubstake is a great stop for burgers and sandwiches. They also serve breakfast, Troy says.
The wooden bar in the Mercantile came from a former brothel in Lander, Wyo., sometime in the mid-1960s, with a full-length mirror.
“I’ve changed a few things,” restaurant owner Ron Abernathy told Cowboy State Daily in an article a couple years ago. “But, you know, it just kind of works, so we stick with it.”
The steaks have a smoked-in flavor that is unique.
“They’re grilled over local aspen wood,” said Abernathy, a nurse before he turned restaurateur. “I get compliments on them all the time.”
The original owner died in 1929 and the Mercantile died with it until 1964 when a steelworker purchased it from a descendant to reopen as a tavern. Abernathy purchased the Mercantile 22 years ago.
“I always thought it would be cool to buy it someday,” he told Cowboy State Daily.
He remembers classmates holding parties in Atlantic City when their parents were out of town and just looking up at the Mercantile and thinking how cool it all was.
Abernathy has taken care through the years to preserve the restaurant’s history and artifacts. There is a display on every wall and in almost every little nook and cranny of the restaurant.
Longport, U.K.
Like Atlantic City, Wyo., Longport in the U.K. is nowhere near an ocean. Located in Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent, the area houses the Longbridge Hayes Industrial Estate. The completion of the Trent and Mersey Canal, coupled with the estate name resulted in the moniker, Longport.
Where have we heard the name Mersey before? Gerry and the Pacemakers. Ferry Cross the Mersey, the Delaware River of Liverpool, native home of a certain quartet of rock musicians.
Rather than a town known for its beaches, Longport, U.K., carries a rich industrial history, with pottery and coal mining. Today, Longport is a quiet residential area with a few local shops and amenities. Middleport Pottery dates back to 1888 and is known for handcrafted Burleigh Ware. Visitors can take a tour of the pottery shop museum, café and gift shop.
Longport also houses the Longport Railway Station, which provides direct service to Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe.
One of the more popular dining outlets is Grumpy’s, a bar and restaurant that prides itself on cash only.
“Grumpy’s is an experience like no other and we are keeping cash alive by being a cash only joint,” a blurb on its website extols.
Ventnor, Isle of Wight
Ventnor, N.J. took its name from the seashore town on the Isle of Wight in the U.K. The island is the site of the UK’s version of Woodstock, the Isle of Wight Festival. The event runs from June 19 to 22 this year.
Ventnor sits on the southeast coast of the Isle of Wight. Established in the Victorian era, it’s known for its Victorian architecture, lush vegetation, varied wildlife and a microclimate that features sunny summers and mild winters.
The western esplanade has a part sand, part fine shingle beach, good for sunbathing and swimming with nearby pubs, cafés, amusements and a paddling pool. The eastern promenade leads to Bonchurch, the Island’s best preserved Victorian village. Charles Dickens wrote part of “David Copperfield” at Bonchurch, which he described as “The prettiest place I ever saw in my life, at home or abroad.”
Shopping includes traditional butchers and delicatessens, greengrocers, handmade jewelry, hardware, toys, collectibles and antique shops.
The town is currently reinventing itself as a stylish destination with new residential development, luxury hotels, wine bars, a piano bar and a new harbor.
Ventnor, Phillip Island, Australia
Both Ventnors in Australia rank as small, with one in Queensland and a larger one on Phillip Island, 90 minutes south of Melbourne.
Also named after its counterpart on the Isle of Wight, the Phillip Island Ventnor features a quiet, local vibe not unlike New Jersey’s version. “It is a favorite beach vacation destination among people from Melbourne and attracts interstate and international visitors with a total of 2.9 million in the year ending June 30. But many tourists will usually head to the nearby Cowes Beach, which is patrolled by lifesavers in the summer months and close to shops, restaurants and bars,” says Alisha Harding, of Destination Phillip Island.
A new Isle of Wight Hotel will soon begin construction in Cowes in place of a former hotel which burned down in 2010.
During the summer the island swells from 14,500 to over 40,000, with holiday homeowners and visitors. Sounds familiar.
“Ventnor Beach is a great spot to watch the sunset over the ocean.” Grossard Point in Ventnor is known for its whale watching vantage point on the Whale Discovery Trail during winter.
“We experience four seasons with each season possessing its own charm,” Harding says. “Summer is hot and brings long beach days. Winter averages approximately 15 degrees Celsius. Like every overseas beach, Ventnor Beach has public access and no fees.
Ventnor, Queensland, Australia
Ventnor, Queensland is a locality in the North Burnett Region of Australia. With a population of 13 – it’s primarily rural.
For more information, visit https://www.visitphillipisland.com.au/
Ventor, Ontario
This Ventnor is a small hamlet located along the Petite Nation River near Spencerville in Edwardsburgh Cardinal, Ontario. Quaint and rural, its roots date back to the early 1800s when Gideon and Joel Adams were granted land.
By 1828, the Adams Family had established a functioning mill, which played a key role in the settlement’s development.
While it no longer serves as a hub of industrial activity, it remains a site of historical significance in the area, says Lesley McDougall, digital marketing manager for region 9 Regional Tourism Organization
By the late 1900s, Ventnor had become a rural farming and residential community, with few businesses outside of agriculture in operation. The last business to close was the general store which ceased operations around 1960.
Currently, the village houses some dairy farming operations; however, the village mostly consists of family homes. Indeed, new homes are being constructed sporadically.
Margate, Fla.
This Margate sits in the middle of the Gateway to Greater Ft. Lauderdale corridor, one of the busiest and wealthiest stretches of land in the state. Still, if you think about it, Margate, Florida is a much larger version of Margate, N.J. Both possess tony shops and restaurants. But the Florida city is not on the oceanfront in Florida. Yet it offers nature centers, art galleries and golf.
Do the math: nine square miles of tree-lined streets, 30 miles of canals and more than 57,000 residents. But no beachfront like New Jersey. The city’s name was derived from the founder’s last name, Jack Marqusee and the first four letters of gateway.
In 2017, Margate ranked as the fourth safest city in Florida of its size by SafeHome.org. Firefighters Park is home to “Safety Town,” a place for kids to learn all about how to safely navigate life. The park also has a walking trail, soccer rink, sand volleyball court, playground, tennis courts and a firefighter memorial area.
Margate, U.K.
Cross the pond to Thanet County and Margate, which does have a beach. Not too long ago, Margate had its own version of Lucy, a mechanical elephant on the beach. Alas, she is no more.
Like other beachfronts around the world, there is no charge to use beaches and bays. “We just ask people to respect, protect and enjoy them, leaving only their footprints in the sand,” says Julie Edwards, senior tourism officer, Thanet District Council.
The year-round population of Margate is 63,320, but that number swells in the summer, of course. And here’s why:
- World-class art and cultural exhibitions.
- Dreamland Margate, the U.K.’s original pleasure park, re-imagined for the 21st century;
- Sands, water sports, rockpools, cockles and whelks, fish ‘n’ chips and candy floss.
- Three beaches with a Seaside Award in 2024.
- Margate Old Town, featuring independent galleries, vintage and retro hotspots and quirky and contemporary shops along cobbled streets.
- Margate Caves, Shell Grotto, Margate Museum, Tudor House, Drapers Windmill and Hornby Visitor Centre.
- New galleries and music venues in nearby Cliftonville.
- Full schedule of events and festivals include POW! Thanet (March), Mods & 60s Festival, Margate Meltdown (May), Skagate Weekend (July), Soul Festival (August), Oh So Retro Show (September) and music events at Dreamland throughout the year.
For more information see www.enjoymargate.co.uk or https://www.visitthanet.co.uk/see-and-do/margate/
William Sokolic is a veteran journalist who has written for daily, weekly and monthly publications. He’s covered a wide range of news, features and entertainment stories. Much of his work concerns tourism, Atlantic City, and the gaming industry.
