ATLANTIC CITY-While superstorm Sandy did someserious damage to Atlantic City casinos, it wasmostly economic rather than physical to the resorts themselves, asresorts were forced to close for five days and nervous eventplanners canceled some affairs.

The Oct. 29^th storm’s generally devastating impacthas not kept casino developers and planners from moving ahead inseveral directions, however. For example:

• Work began in mid-November on re-building an old pierfoundation for the Margaritaville LandShark Bar &Grill, a $35.5 million project by Resorts CasinoHotel.
• Also, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority officials aremoving to study the feasibility of building an indoor marketplacelike that at Reading Terminal in Philadelphia.

The Margaritaville project is to rise at the site of theSteeplechase Pier amusement park – burned down in1988. Resorts Casino Hotel plans a 16,000-square-footrestaurant/bar, as well as retail shops, a beach bar, coffee shopand other amenities in an island-themed complex set 200 feet abovesand-level.

The project is one of the largest in Atlantic City in the pastfew years. Area Chamber of Commerce presidentJoseph Kelly says it will expand – and also diversify – the city’sentertainment offerings. Margaritaville sponsor Jimmy Buffett, thesinger, appeals to a wide variety of people and age groups, henoted.

The indoor mall project is moving forward step-by-step, with theCRDA board poised to formally accept a $9.5 million contributionfrom Caesers Entertainment toward the plan at its Dec. 18 meeting.The authority has scheduled a January vote on selection of a firmto do the feasibility study of creating a marketplace witheateries, bistros, flower shops and produce vendors that would tiein to the open-air Tanger Outlets mall.