Atlantic City's Donald Trump Plaza goes for bargain $20M
Trump Plaza, the Boardwalk centerpiece of Donald Trump's onetime Atlantic City empire, was sold Thursday to a California company for $20 million in the cheapest of a series of bargain-basement deals for distressed gambling halls in the struggling New Jersey seaside resort.
The Meruelo Group of Downey, California, plans to close the deal by May 31. It is the lowest price ever paid for a casino in Atlantic City.
The company has not decided on a new name for the casino-resort, but said it will not continue to use the Trump name.
The Meruelo Group, which counts construction, engineering, real estate, food service and private equity among its businesses, also owns the Grand Sierra Resort and casino in Reno, Nevada.
"Trump Plaza is one of the world's most recognized gaming resort destinations and is an integral part of the Atlantic City landscape,'' said Alex Meruelo, founder and CEO of the Meruelo Group. "Our company is thrilled to have the opportunity to become the new owners of this property, and we are firmly committed toward establishing it as one of the elite destinations in Atlantic City and on the East Coast.''
Robert Griffin, CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts, told The Associated Press the deal shows the Atlantic City market is still attractive to investors, given the right price.
"This is good news for the city, for the state, and for the Plaza,'' he said. "There is still considerable interest in this market.''
Xavier Gutierrez , chief investment officer for The Meruelo Group, said the company plans to make
Be the first to comment.
