View source for Trump Plaza (Atlantic City)

== History ==
Trump Plaza is a closed hotel and casino located on the Boardwalk in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]]. It was owned by Trump Entertainment Resorts. Designed by architect Martin Stern Jr., it operated from May 15, 1984, until September 16, 2014.

[[Donald Trump]], a New York real estate developer, had wanted to build a casino in Atlantic City as early as 1982. His plan was to build the casino in partnership with the [[Holiday Corporation]], but the two entities had difficulty obtaining financing. Eventually, Trump was able to secure financing from several different sources, including a $200 million loan from the [[Manufacturers Hanover Corporation]].

The construction of Trump Plaza was completed in 1984. The casino opened on May 15, 1984, with a grand opening celebration that included a fireworks display and a performance by [[Frank Sinatra]]. The casino was a 39-story building, with a 60,000-square-foot casino and a 612-room hotel. It was the tenth casino to open in Atlantic City.

[[Image:Detail-50743.jpg|thumb|center|A view of Trump Plaza from the Boardwalk, showing the towering hotel and casino complex against a clear blue sky.|class=only_on_mobile]]
[[Image:Detail-50744.jpg|thumb|center|A view of Trump Plaza from the Boardwalk, showing the towering hotel and casino complex against a clear blue sky.|class=only_on_desktop]]

== Operations ==
Trump Plaza was one of the largest casinos in Atlantic City, with over 3,000 slot machines and 86 table games. The casino also had a poker room, a race and sports book, and a keno parlor. The hotel had several restaurants, including a buffet, a steakhouse, and a 24-hour cafe. There was also a showroom that hosted various entertainment events, such as concerts and boxing matches.

In its early years, Trump Plaza was one of the most successful casinos in Atlantic City. However, the casino began to struggle in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as competition increased from new casinos in Atlantic City and other states. Trump Entertainment Resorts filed for bankruptcy several times, and the company was eventually sold to [[Carl Icahn]] in 2016.

== Closure and Demolition ==
Trump Plaza closed its doors on September 16, 2014. At the time of its closure, it was the fourth casino to close in Atlantic City that year. The building remained vacant for several years, and there were several proposals to redevelop the site, but none of them came to fruition.

In 2020, it was announced that Trump Plaza would be demolished. The demolition was originally scheduled for early 2021, but it was delayed several times. The building was finally imploded on February 17, 2021. The site is now a vacant lot, and there are no current plans for its redevelopment.

== Impact on Atlantic City ==
The closure of Trump Plaza was a significant event for Atlantic City. The casino had been a major employer and a significant source of tax revenue for the city. Its closure resulted in the loss of over 1,000 jobs and a significant decrease in the city's tax revenue.

The closure of Trump Plaza also had a significant impact on the city's image. For many years, the casino had been one of the most recognizable landmarks in Atlantic City. Its closure and subsequent demolition were seen by many as symbolic of the city's economic struggles.

== See Also ==
* [[Trump Entertainment Resorts]]
* [[Casinos in Atlantic City]]
* [[History of Atlantic City]]

[[Category:Defunct casinos in the United States]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Atlantic City, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Former buildings and structures in New Jersey]]