ATLANTIC CITY-While superstorm Sandy did some serious damage to Atlantic City casinos, it was mostly economic rather than physical to the resorts themselves, as resorts were forced to close for five days and nervous event planners canceled some affairs.

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

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

The Margaritaville project is to rise at the site of the Steeplechase Pier amusement park – burned down in 1988. Resorts Casino Hotel plans a 16,000-square-foot restaurant/bar, as well as retail shops, a beach bar, coffee shop and other amenities in an island-themed complex set 200 feet above sand-level.

The project is one of the largest in Atlantic City in the past few years. Area Chamber of Commerce president Joseph Kelly says it will expand – and also diversify – the city’s entertainment offerings. Margaritaville sponsor Jimmy Buffett, the singer, appeals to a wide variety of people and age groups, he noted.

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