Bally’s plans a grand spectacle for the onset of Memorial Day weekend in late May, the traditional start of the crucial “high season” for all Atlantic City casinos.
But the refurbished lobby merely gets the property up to speed, and the renovation of 750 or so rooms as part of the $120 million upgrade of the 43-year-old property won’t be readily apparent to anyone who isn’t staying there. So what can the Boardwalk property do to set itself apart from eight competitors and create discussion among the city’s regular visitors?
One answer came with announcement Monday of plans for the casino’s Memorial Day weekend debut of “The Carousel Bar,” touted as “adding excitement with a nostalgic, modern twist. ”
Nostalgia in the air at new bar
The Carousel Bar, according to an ambitious press release, “is a subtle nod to the timeless amusements found along the boardwalk of Atlantic City. Carousel Bar captures the essence of iconic experiences through its central feature, an elevated 24-seat rotating bar reminiscent of a carousel.
“With 360-degree views of the casino and adjacent areas, it is the first venue of its kind in Atlantic City. Guests can enjoy modern, craft cocktails with the spirit of Atlantic City flavors at their core such as Saltwater Taffy, Cotton Candy, caramel popcorn, and more!
“Every aspect of the Carousel Bar’s elegant design, from the color palette to the custom curved lighting fixtures above the bar, lends a subtle nod to the boardwalk and speakeasy era and creates a feeling of nostalgia and whimsy.
“The changing light displays subtly nod to illuminated seaside amusement rides. The surrounding modern glass rail defines the space making it private yet visible, grabbing the attention of visitors and hints to the spinning rides of our childhood.”
The idea of rotating seating while imbibing cocktails might sound a bit jarring at first. But fear not — just picture a revolving restaurant, which moves so slowly that one can easily walk on and walk off without any need of assistance.
The bar will be located adjacent to the casino floor and to that new hotel lobby, so guests checking in will be sure to notice it. It will be open every day with music that is “contemporary and upbeat” and feature “Carousel Specials” cocktails designed for summer consumption, such as the “Merry-G0-Round,” which includes lemon vodka, blueberries, lemon bitters, and cotton candy swirl.
‘The Yard’ is another new attraction
Bally’s also recently announced the pending launch this summer of a new indoor/outdoor entertainment venue called “The Yard” covering 10,000 square feet.
“Many of us remember the iconic Dennis Hotel’s towers photo that has appeared so many times, and now we are bringing energy to this space like never before,” Phil Juliano, Bally’s executive vice president of casino operations & chief marketing officer, said in a statement.
So what’s to do at The Yard?
It’s described as a “beer garden-style venue with a gastropub-style menu, a curated tap list featuring local and national brewers, and craft cocktails. Adding to this experience will be ’90’s themed arcade games, lounge-style seating, and an indoor and outdoor stage for live entertainment.”
Juliano says the addition was inspired by beer halls popular in Philadelphia and New York.
“The modern industrial design and open-air space captures beautiful views from every angle in a park-like setting, designed to guarantee outstanding acoustics for live entertainment all year long.”
The extensive upgrades are important for Bally’s, whose executives have acknowledged a perception problem from prior years as an overlooked property within the Caesars Entertainment empire in Atlantic City. As is customary, Bally’s finished last in casino revenue in the city in February. The goal is to end that cycle by sometime in 2023, with a boost from additions like The Yard and Carousel Bar.
Carousel Bar rendering provided by Bally’s
