ATLANTIC CITY — Entertainment tryouts are being held on the 13th floor Screening Room of Resorts Casino today and tomorrow (Thursday and Friday, April 18-19), as local entertainers vie for the opportunity to perform at the soon-to-be-opened Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville and LandShark Bar & Grill, which is set to open in May.

The band Route 9 auditions at Resorts Thursday afternoon, April 18

The tryouts are by appointment only both days from 10am-6pm. Auditions are available to full bands, duos and trios, and solo acoustic guitar solo artists.

Musicians will compete for a spot on an entertainment roster that will feature seven-night-per-week performances at the new Margaritaville Café and at the LandShark Bar & Grill — the first-ever full-service bar and restaurant directly located on the famous Atlantic City beachfront at Resorts.

Talent scouts will be evaluating talent with a particular focus on fun, upbeat acts specializing in cover songs ranging from classic rock to Top 40.

After Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath, the region is looking forward to a major summer season. One of the most anticipated components of that season is the addition of the Margaritaville complex to Resorts Casino Hotel.

Today (March 1), Resorts had a topping off event for the LandShark Bar & Grill, the centerpiece of the Margaritaville experience at Resorts, which will be located right on the Boardwalk with beautiful ocean views. The restaurant/bar is scheduled to open Memorial Day Weekend.

“The Margaritaville project at Resorts is an amazing step forward for Atlantic City,” said Morris Bailey, owner of Resorts Casino Hotel.  “Our investment coupled with the Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville brand is a huge coup for the city.”

The Margaritaville complex at Resorts will completely embrace the lifestyle featuring a casino, restaurant, Five O’clock Somewhere Bar, retail stores, LandShark Bar and Grill, a year-round beach bar complex, and their first ever coffee shop. Additionally, Resorts Boardwalk façade will be re-themed with the Margaritaville brand.

Margaritaville is inspired by the lyrics and lifestyle of Jimmy Buffett, whose songs inspire a yearning for an island adventure. Comprised of retail shops, restaurants, consumer products, hotels and casinos, Margaritaville delivers a tropical experience where guests can enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of their favorite destination regardless of their current latitude. Since launching its first location in Key West, Margaritaville has expanded to some of the most popular U.S. destinations, including: New Orleans, Mohegan Sun Casino, Nashville and Jimmy Buffett’s at The Beachcomber in Honolulu.

WATCH: Video of Jimmy Buffett in Atlantic City announcing the Margaritaville project in July 2012.

Margaritaville Entertainment Complex Fact Sheet

• LandShark Bar & Grill
Square footage: 12,650 (including outdoor deck)
Number of Seats: 311 seats
• Margaritaville Café
Square footage: 10,315 (including outdoors)
Number of Seats: 395 seats (including outdoors)
• 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar
Square footage: 1,632
Number of Seats: 57 seats
• Coffee Shop
Square footage: 890
Number of Seats: 20 seats
• Retail Shops
Square footage: 1,292
• Margaritaville Casino
Square footage: 4,440

Construction begins on Resorts' $35 million Margaritaville project (Photo: C. Steiner)

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY — On Wednesday morning, Nov. 14, as reported in this space yesterday afternoon, construction began on the $35 million Jimmy Buffett-themed Margaritaville project at Resorts (on the Boardwalk side).

“We are thrilled to get the Margaritaville project underway,” said Gary Van Hettinga, the new president and C.E.O. of Resorts Casino Hotel following a partnership deal with Connecticut-based Mohegan Gaming Advisors, who will have a minority ownership in the property.

The project, which is expected to be completed by Memorial Day weekend 2013, includes a 16,000-square foot Landshark Bar & Grill, which will be located across from the casino, according to the Associated Press.

Construction work started on the Landshark venue Wednesday morning.

An AP report Wednesday afternoon states that Resorts president Gary Van Hettinga called the Margaritaville project “a vote of confidence in the seaside resort’s long-term viability.”

“It shows we are extremely confident that the future of Atlantic City is bright and that non-gaming amenities are an essential aspect of it,” he said at the construction site Wednesday morning.

More tidbits about the project from the Wednesday, Nov. 14, AP report:

• As is the case with other Margaritaville properties owned by entertainer Jimmy Buffett, plans call for island-themed landscaping, including palm trees, more than a dozen cabanas, two beach volleyball courts, a bocce ball court, two horseshoe pits and a fire pit. An adjacent surf shop also is planned.

• Wednesday morning, crews using heavy equipment began moving pilings onto the beach that will support the restaurant, which will be on the sand just about 200 feet from the Boardwalk.

• Part of the Margaritaville complex will be inside Resorts as well. Workers were gutting a restaurant that will be re-done as part of the project, while others were putting up new drywall in corridors.

VIDEO: Jimmy Buffett announces the Margaritaville project in Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY — The state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a required land-use permit to DGMB Casino LLC, allowing for the development of a new $35 million expansion project that will include a Margaritaville-themed restaurant, recreation center and retail space on the reconstructed Steeplechase Pier in Atlantic City. The project will pave the way for job creation and economic growth in the region, according to an Associated Press article.

According to the AP story, plans call for construction of a 16,000-squarefoot restaurant called Margaritaville Landshark Bar & Grill at Resorts Casino Hotel on the rebuilt pier. Keeping with the character of other Margaritaville properties owned by entertainer Jimmy Buffett, plans for the restaurant and bar on the pier include island-themed landscaping, over a dozen cabanas, two beach volleyball courts, a bocce ball court, two horseshoe pits, a fire pit and a surf shop.

The new venture fits in with the Gov. Chris Christie and his administration’s continuing commitment to developing Atlantic City into a premier destination resort that offers world-class entertainment, shopping and dining in addition to casino gaming. It is designed to provide the Atlantic City Boardwalk with another destination that is vital to the city’s economy, and also will provide an overall boost to the state’s $38 billion tourism industry, says the release.

The proposed development was reviewed by the DEP and meets all of the state’s environmental standards, allowing for issuance of a necessary state Coastal Areas Facilities Review Act, or CAFRA, permit. Under terms of the permit, any beach and/or dune areas temporarily impacted by construction activities must be restored to pre-construction conditions immediately after completion of the project.
This project is expected to create 250 construction jobs and another 162 permanent jobs.

The Richard Stockton College’s Dr. Israel Posner on his reaction to last week’s news (see video) regarding the Mohegan Sun and Resorts deal in Atlantic City, a short time after it was announced (see video) that Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville brand would also be a part of the new Resorts come 2013.

Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or what’s happening in the region. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly.

I never watched America’s Best Dance Crew, and all I know about break dancing is what I’ve seen in the movies. Well last night I got skooled on how inventive break dancing can be, especially when it embraces humor, mime, and other forms of dance in the mix at the debut of Jabbawockeez’ Mus.I.C (pronounced Muse-I-C) at Harrah’s Resort. I’ll have a complete story with interviews in next week’s (Aug. 16) issue of AC Weekly, but my first reaction is that show is terrific and family-friendly. Go here for showtimes and more info. No wonder this show has been a hit in Las Vegas. Check out video here.

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Resorts Casino Hotel keeps making news. Just two weeks after its Margaritaville/Buffett business venture announcement, comes the announcement about a new partnership with the Native American Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority. After going through the gaming screening process, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority will take over the operations of Resorts, most likely in the fall. The company will make a purchase to become a minority owner, but current owner Morris Bailey made it clear that, “Resorts is not for sale.”

Reaction from industry pundits so far has been positive. Of course when a new company comes in to run a business, they are sure to be major personnel changes. Time will tell about how that shakes out. But the very fact that such a prestigious, profitable company is interested in the Atlantic City market suggests that the business climate is improving here. Take that, all you Revel haters who are already writing off Revel before it has had a chance to take hold.

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I had a chance to see Jimmy Buffett in concert for the first time Aug. 4 and it was quite a show. The positive energy of the Parrotheads bodes well for the success of the Margaritaville complex at Resorts, which will open May 2013 … After enjoying the superb dance crew Jabbawockeez last night (Aug. 7), I’ll be checking out a different style of dancing tonight, Aug. 8, at the opening of the male revue Thunder From Down Under at the Tropicana. These boys from Australia know how to shake it and present an evening that is sexy, not sleazy. The show continues through Aug. 11 … My busy week of show coverage finishes up with Country Superstars, this Sunday at Golden Nugget. The show features tribute artists ala Legends in Concert, highlighting the top country stars around. It will be my first chance to check out the upgraded showroom at GN. I haven’t been to a show there since it was Trump Marina.

Along with the recent announcement of the annual “American Idols Live!” tour coming to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall in September (followed by Madonna on Sept. 15), the historic venue on the Atlantic City Boardwalk will host Carrie Underwood (with Hunter Hayes) on Nov. 9; Enrique Iglesias on July 29 and an Aug. 17 “Gigantes Tour” stop featuring Marc Anthony, Marco Antonio Solis and Chayanne.

Also slated for the Hall:

Mother’s Day Weekend Show w/ Charlie Wilson, Patti LaBelle and Johnny Gill: May 12

New Edition: May 27

Jimmy Buffett: Aug. 4

See all upcoming concerts in Atlantic City by clicking here.

After skipping Atlantic City for a few years, Jimmy Buffett is headed back to the Boardwalk for a concert at Boardwalk Hall on Aug. 4. Tickets go on sale Saturday, April 28 at 10am, with an eight-ticket limit per customer. (To read the 2008 cover story pictured at right go here.)

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band last played in town in 2009 when we were still expecting the Trump Marina casino to be sold and turned into a Margaritaville-themed casino. As it turned out, that business partnership between Coastal Marina, LLC and Buffett’s company never panned out, likely because of the recession that hit town like a Tsunami right about then.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jimmy Buffett back to Boardwalk Hall,” said Greg Tesone, General Manager of Boardwalk Hall. “There’s no better place to enjoy Jimmy Buffett and the thousands of Parrotheads than at the beach in Atlantic City this summer.”

Buffett will have a new live CD/DVD this summer, which was recorded in Las Vegas last October. It will be released on Buffett’s own Mailboat Records. His first digital album release, Volcano – Live 2011, is now available for download through iTunes, and contains new live versions of the songs from this classic album.

World-renowned music man and businessman Jimmy Buffett may have had one too many margaritas before the final show of his Australian tour in Sydney last night.

Buffett fell from the stage — see video here, captured by TMZ — during the concert and has been hospitalized in Australia after suffering injuries to his head in relation to the fall.

On the foxnews.com Web site, a story on the incident reports:

“… it appears that flashing lights from the lighting director may have triggered the fall, as Buffett was unable to see.

“Members of the audience said Buffettt could be heard striking metal on his way to the floor, where he then lay unconscious for 5-10 minutes.

“An audience member told the Telegraph, ‘We were told to leave the premises. No one really wanted to leave because everyone was anxious to know if he survived the fall. Everyone was pretty horrified.’”

The 64-year-old singer was once interested in bringing his Margaritaville Casino to Atlantic City, where Trump Marina is currently located.

But after the economic freeze of the last few years, there have been no reports of Buffett coming to AC with a casino any time soon. He has performed in Atlantic City in recent years.

We wish him a speedy recovery.

You won’t have to look too hard to find a bunch of Parrotheads this Sunday in Atlantic City. When Jimmy Buffett comes to town (and he’s been a regular the last several years), AC becomes its own version of Margaritaville. Even if you weren’t lucky enough — or couldn’t afford — to score tickets for Buffet’s concert at Boardwalk Hall this Sunday (Aug. 23), there are plenty of places you can enjoy his music. And, if you have tickets here are some places you can hang out before the show.
Bally’s Bikini Beach Bar has declared that’s its Buffett Weekend with a Buffett Fashion Show on Friday from 4-7pm and Sunday it’s the Buffett Tailgate Party with DJ Jeff Allen from noon-6pm.
Hilton’s Beach Bar presents the music of Parrothead on Sunday from 1-5pm. Trump Plaza Beach Bar celebrates Jimmy Buffett Day with music by Parrot Beach on Sunday. The bar opens at 11:30am. The Deck at Trump Marina has a Parrot Bay Parrot Head Party on Saturday with a BBQ from 3-7pm and on Sunday, the Deck has a Landshark Beer Buffett/BBQ 3-7pm with Buffett tickets being given away.
We’ll be wasting away in Atlantic City-ville this weekend.