Posted on: December 10, 2024, 05:40h.
Last updated on: December 10, 2024, 05:40h.
A new boutique hotel drawing inspiration from the classic board game Monopoly is in the works in Atlantic City, the very place where the original board’s street names are located.
Executives with RMS Capital, a New Jersey-based real estate developer, revealed on Tuesday that the firm will break ground next year on The Top Hat at The Orange Loop. The design for the boutique hotel is drawn from Monopoly, most specifically the top hat piece, one of the original six pieces players use to move around the board as they buy up streets to build houses and hotels to bankrupt their opponents.
Along with a top hat standing atop the three-story structure, the initial blueprint includes a racecar protruding off the building’s façade. The racecar token was introduced in 1943, eight years after the game was first published in 1935.
“The Top Hat at The Orange Loop is a game changer for Atlantic City. We’re not just building a structure — we’re creating a space that will serve as a landmark for residents and visitors alike,” said Mark Callazzo, RMS Capital’s managing partner.
“The Orange Loop has come a long way from its ‘Dead Zone’ days, and this project represents the next step in its evolution. It’s about revitalizing the area, supporting local businesses, and offering unique experiences that drive tourism and economic growth,” Callazzo added.
Diversifying Atlantic City
The Top Hat hotel will be built along Tennessee Ave. in the heart of Atlantic City. Tennessee arrives at the Boardwalk at the Central Pier.
RMS didn’t specify an address for the boutique hotel featuring six bedrooms and retail space on the ground floor spanning 1,400 square feet, but the mixed-use Orange Loop spans three beach blocks from Tennessee south to St. James Place and New York Ave. The district is home to several restaurants, a coffee joint, a live music venue, a cannabis dispensary, a yoga studio, a beer hall, and a church.
The Top Hat won’t include a casino or any form of gambling, though each room will presumably come with a game of Monopoly. It will instead seek to attract new visitors to the beach town to stay in a Monopoly-themed boutique hotel and short-term rental.
The Top Hat is more than a building,” Callazzo continued. “It’s a symbol of Atlantic City’s resilience and innovation.”
The two closest casinos to The Orange Loop are Bally’s to the south and Resorts to the north.
Monopoly History
The original Monopoly game board that remains in production nearly nine decades after it was first released uses Atlantic City street names for 21 of the 22 available street deeds. The lone exception is Marvin Gardens, which is in adjacent Ventnor City.
The predecessor to Monopoly, a board game called The Landlord’s Game, became popular with a group of Quakers in Atlantic City. Charles Darrow, one of the Quakers, designed his version of The Landlord’s Game using local streets in Atlantic City.
Monopoly slot machines have become some of the most popular games inside casinos across the country. The game brand is also used for interactive online lottery games and scratchers.
Leading gaming manufacturer Light & Wonder holds the exclusive rights to Monopoly-themed gaming products through a licensing agreement with Hasbro.
