The former Trump Plaza will go out with a bang sometime in February, and the highest bidder can press the button to bring it down.
“I wanted to use the demolition of this place to raise money for charity,” said AC Mayor Marty Small.
An auction company will accept bids through January 19 when the top bids will be opened and a live auction held. The demolition could raise more than $1 million for the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, according to the Associated Press. The Boys & Girls Club offers recreation, education and training programs for local children and teens.
Opened in 1984, Trump Plaza shut down in 2014 and fell into disrepair. Some demolition work began earlier this year. Donald Trump got out of Atlantic City in 2009, but still received a 10 percent fee for use of his name. The fee disappeared when Carl Icahn bought the company in 2016.
Sections of the façade fell to the ground this year, along with additional debris. Icahn agreed to tear the building down. Small expects to discuss possible uses for the site.
The last time a casino came down was in 2007 when the Sands imploded to make way for what was to be an extravagant replacement. The project disappeared when the Great Recession hit.
