Take a video tour of the nine Atlantic City casinos
View the nine casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
A South Jersey restaurant operator is expanding to Atlantic City as part of a $50 million upgrade for Ocean Casino Resort.
LaScala’s Fire at Ocean is expected to open in early summer, according to an announcement from the casino business.
Ocean said it’s investing $5 million in two eateries to be developed in partnership with Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr. It offered few details, but said the eateries are to open this summer and would be operated by Ocean with Starr as the restaurant partner.
The casino-hotel also said it plans to spend $25 million to upgrade 559 guest rooms and suites. It called that “the culmination of a multi-year project to transform all 1,860 guest rooms and suites at the property,”:”
The “Blu Rooms and Suites” will feature bathrooms with marble flooring, a double vanity and an over-sized shower. Suites will have a dining area, lounge seating and a wet bar.
Among other changes, Ocean plans to:
- Offer two new casual dining options — High Steaks, with a cheesesteak-centered menu, and Blend, which will offer smoothies and acai bowls. High Steaks has already opened in The District, a casino-level food court.
- Double to 8,000 square feet its “Asian gaming space,” providing 32 tables for games like pai gow poker and mini-baccarat. This project will have an expected cost of $4 million.
- Open a miniature golf course and bar later this summer. The 8,000-square-foot attraction on the casino level will feature two $500,000 holograms, one showing a great white shark, over the main bar. It’s expected to draw both a family market and bar patrons.
- Offer a women’s clothing boutique, Sweetheart Coast, by early summer at the Shops at the Row.
LaScala’s Fire at Ocean will occupy space on the casino level, while the Starr restaurants will be on the lobby level.
The Starr restaurants will take space formerly occupied by Harper’s, a brunch spot that has expanded to the casino level, and Sky Café.
LaScala’s Fire, with seven sites in South Jersey and Pennsylvania, also is expanding this year to Northeast Philadelphia and West Chester, according to its website.
LaScala Restaurant Group includes LaScala Birra in Pennsauken, LaScala’s Beach House in Brigantine, and LaScala’s Pronto in Medford and Philadelphia. It is the parent company of The Chicken or the Egg in Marlton and Beach Haven, and Lorenzo Pizza & Steaks in Marlton.
Ocean’s announcement on Monday described the ongoing work as part of a $270 million “property transformation” for the site it acquired in 2018. The property opened in 2012 as Revel Casino Resort.
The casino has 135,000 square feet of gaming entertainment, including 125 gaming tables and more than 1,750 slot machines.
Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.
1
20
20
