Atlantic City Readies For Summer Season With Three Less Casinos
By Cleve Bryan
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (CBS) - Riding a skateboard to illustrate the point - Mayor Don Guardian joked Thursday that a new surface on Atlantic City's main drag Pacific Avenue means a smooth start to the summer season.
But what kind of summer will this be for Atlantic City?
Since Memorial Day Weekend last year the Revel, Trump Plaza and Showboat casinos have all closed.
"I think we're rebranding the city in a way, we're making a tough transition from a casino centric economy to one that's more diverse," John Palmieri, executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.
This summer, Atlantic City adds the Bass Pro Shop mega-store, and a re-birth of the Pier at Caesars lead by Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein.
Tourism promoters will also try to continue the success of last summer's Blake Shelton and Lady Antebellum beach concerts with two more big-name shows.
The city's welcome sign has a new message: Entertainment Capital of the Jersey Shore.
Guardian says when people think of Atlantic City this summer he wants them to think entertainment because, "Our forefathers built this place to let your hair down and have a great time."