Rainforest Cafe Sues To Stay At Trump Plaza Casino

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - A popular restaurant at Trump Plaza is suing the Atlantic City casino, asking a judge to permit it to keep operating after the casino shuts down on Sept. 16.

The Rainforest Cafe, whose parent company owns the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City, wants a judge to force Trump Entertainment Resorts to allow the restaurant to stay open for 90 days after the closing.

That would give the cafe time to connect its own utilities and continue operating independently of the casino.

Steve Scheinthal, general counsel for Houston, Texas-based Landry's Inc., says the cafe's customers enter and leave through the Boardwalk, and have nothing to do with the casino.

The issue has also arisen this week with HQ, a club at the now-closed Revel, which also wants to stay open.

The problem is so serious that Gov. Christie will be front and center at a summit in September to determine the future of Atlantic City, which has been facing competition from New York and Pennsylvania.

"It's not a monopoly anymore. In fact, 40-some states have gaming now so now we're going to find a new way to go in Atlantic City," Gov. Christie said.

Christie says he'd like to see Atlantic City become a  resort destination much like Point Pleasant Beach down the Jersey Shore.

"It has to become resort like this where folks come not just to gamble, but come with their families to have a great vacation," Gov. Christie said.

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