Openings

Atlantic City Opens Its First Gay Club in 33 Years

Atalntic City
Atalntic City Photo: Courtesy Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority

When the new nightclub Prohibition opened last week at Resorts Casino Hotel, it was a first of its kind in Atlantic City. And no, we’re not talking about clubs, bars and restaurants cashing in on the success of Boardwalk Empire by putting on roaring twenties and speakeasy airs. While hard to believe, it’s the first “permanent” gay venue (permanent, as in not gay for just a one-off event or weekly party) to open in a casino in the city’s 33 years of legalized gambling. According to the Associated Press, gay clubs and bars were once prominent fixtures in Atlantic City in the ’60s and ’70s, but legalized gambling led to a sharp increase in property values, which in turn wiped out the city’s gay scene. The article goes on to state that Prohibition’s opening is victory for the city, which has spent years trying to tap into one of tourism’s most coveted demographics, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender market. What we can’t figure out is, if the gay segment is such a highly sought after group for Atlantic City’s atrophying casinos, why did it take 33 years to open a gay club in one? [AP via Philly.com]

Atlantic City Opens Its First Gay Club in 33 Years