Four years have passed since the dramatic implosion of Atlantic City’s Trump Plaza, a building that once stood as a glittering symbol of the city’s heyday and the ambitions of its most famous owner, Donald Trump. Now, the sandy, vacant parcel where the casino once towered is back in the spotlight: seven months after the anniversary of its demolition, the land is officially up for sale, marking a new chapter in the saga of one of Atlantic City’s most storied sites.
According to NJ Advance Media and a real estate listing on Crexi, the property covers an impressive 1.87 million square feet. There’s no asking price listed—a curious detail that only adds to the intrigue surrounding the sale. Adam Gillespie, a Philadelphia-based commercial realtor handling the listing, declined to comment when contacted by reporters, leaving potential buyers and Atlantic City residents alike to wonder what the future might hold for this prime piece of Boardwalk real estate.
The property’s ownership traces back to Trump Plaza Associates, a subsidiary of Icahn Enterprises. This firm was founded by billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who acquired the casino from Donald Trump in 2016. An email to Icahn Enterprises seeking comment was not immediately returned, adding a layer of mystery to the property’s next steps. Still, the sale marks the end of an era—and perhaps the beginning of a new one—for a site that has played a central role in Atlantic City’s turbulent economic story.
Trump Plaza’s history is, in many ways, a microcosm of Atlantic City’s own fortunes. The casino first opened its doors in 1984, becoming the tenth gambling venue to launch in the city after New Jersey legalized gambling in the late 1970s. At the time, Donald Trump was a rising star in the world of real estate and entertainment, and Trump Plaza was his first foray into the casino business. The Plaza quickly became a fixture on the Boardwalk, its name emblazoned in bold letters and its opulent design drawing crowds from across the region.
But the good times didn’t last forever. The 2010s brought a wave of economic challenges to Atlantic City, as competition from casinos in neighboring states and broader shifts in the gambling industry led to declining revenues. Trump Plaza was one of several casinos to shut its doors in 2014, a move that signaled just how deep the city’s troubles had become. For years, the building stood empty and increasingly derelict, a stark reminder of both the city’s former glory and its more recent woes.
By 2020, the city had seen enough. Officials condemned the property, clearing the way for its eventual demolition. The actual implosion took place in February 2021—an event that, as reported by NJ Advance Media, erased 30 years of history in a matter of seconds. Residents and former employees watched as the once-mighty structure crumbled to dust, marking the end of an era for Atlantic City’s skyline.
Yet, the story of Trump Plaza is intertwined with the broader narrative of Donald Trump’s business dealings in Atlantic City. In addition to the Plaza, Trump opened two other casinos in the city: the Taj Mahal and Trump Marina. Both properties would eventually be sold and rebranded, with the Taj Mahal becoming the Hard Rock Hotel Casino and Trump Marina transforming into the Golden Nugget Casino Hotel. Trump also briefly owned the former Atlantis Casino, which he renamed Trump World Fair, situated next to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and the Plaza itself.
Despite his high-profile investments, Trump’s tenure in Atlantic City was far from smooth sailing. His casinos became embroiled in a series of bankruptcies, ultimately causing him to lose majority ownership of his Atlantic City properties. The financial struggles and legal wranglings that followed became a staple of local headlines, reflecting both the volatility of the casino industry and the risks inherent in high-stakes real estate ventures.
Now, with the land where Trump Plaza once stood up for sale, many are left to speculate about what comes next. The property’s massive size and prime location on the Boardwalk make it a tantalizing prospect for developers, but the lack of an asking price suggests that Icahn Enterprises is open to a range of possibilities. Will the site become home to another casino, a hotel, or perhaps something entirely different? The answers remain elusive, but one thing is certain: whatever happens next, it will add yet another layer to the legacy of this iconic Atlantic City address.
The sale also raises broader questions about the future of Atlantic City itself. The city has worked hard in recent years to reinvent itself, seeking to diversify its economy beyond gambling and attract new visitors with entertainment, dining, and cultural attractions. The fate of the former Trump Plaza site could play a pivotal role in these efforts, serving as a test case for the city’s ability to adapt and thrive in a changing economic landscape.
For longtime residents and industry observers, the current moment is tinged with both nostalgia and hope. The implosion of Trump Plaza may have erased a physical landmark, but the memories and lessons of its three-decade run are still very much alive. As one former employee told NJ Advance Media at the time of the demolition, "It’s the end of an era, but maybe it’s also a new beginning for Atlantic City."
As developers and city officials weigh their options, many are watching closely to see whether the site will once again become a symbol—this time, not of decline, but of renewal. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether this storied patch of Atlantic City sand can be transformed into something worthy of its dramatic past.
Whatever the outcome, the sale of the Trump Plaza property is a reminder that cities, like the people and businesses that shape them, are always works in progress. The dust may have settled from the implosion, but the story of Atlantic City—and the land that once hosted one of its most famous casinos—is far from over.