Relive Boardwalk Empire Today

Are you a fan of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire? To get you into the New Jersey casino spirit, we’ve put together some info about the show to help you take a walk in the shoes of Nucky Thompson himself.

Atlantic City is a jewel along the Eastern Seaboard. Plenty of people know it for its casinos, entertainment, and iconic boardwalk. In fact, that boardwalk isn’t only at the center of the city — it’s at the center of the hit HBO series Boardwalk Empire.

The show revived interest in Atlantic City’s history, as fans adored the sets, costumes, and glitz of the city during its Prohibition years. Of course, the city embraced the fame, having run special trolley tours themed around the show during its run.

If you’re a fan of the show, check out our list of things you have to try if you want to walk in the shoes of Nucky Thompson, the show’s captivating antihero.

A Bit About Boardwalk Empire

The show was a lushly produced period piece that focused on Atlantic City from the 1920s into the early 1930s. The series starred Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson, the local political boss who won over his constituents as a charitable politician but was also a ruthless gangster.

It lasted for five seasons, exploring Nucky’s rise to prominence and his control over the city through his connections with mobsters, politicians, government agents, and his voters as he expanded his power through mafia connections and bootlegging liquor in the city.

The Inspiration for Nucky Thompson

Buscemi’s character of Nucky Thompson was loosely based on the Atlantic City politician and racketeer Enoch Lewis “Nucky” Johnson. The man was the boss of the city’s political machine from the 1910s until he was convicted and imprisoned for tax evasion in 1941.

During Johnson’s rule, Atlantic City was a refuge from Prohibition. Though the law made it illegal to sell or make liquor, this didn’t stop Americans from drinking anyway. Organized crime cropped up to fill the demand for alcohol across the country.

In Atlantic City, Prohibition laws were basically not enforced by local authorities. Because of the city’s tourism-based economy, business owners wanted to be able to provide whatever they needed to make visitors happy. And, with the city’s beachfront location, the docks made it easy for rum-runners to bring their goods ashore.

Johnson allegedly controlled everything in the city, from the smuggling operations to law enforcement, so Atlantic City was free to flagrantly violate federal law.

A Trip Back in Time

While Atlantic City has changed drastically since 1920s Prohibition (not just with alcohol being legal again), it still carries the glitz, glamour, and history of its former days. Bright lights and amusements line the boardwalk, which itself was developed way back in 1870.

Fans of Boardwalk Empire can stroll that same boardwalk that powerful men like Nucky Johnson reigned over, evoke the indulgences of the 1920s in a cozy gin joint, take in the classic Art Deco façades of major casinos, and even eat where Johnson did. For a fun bit of time travel, here’s how you can experience Atlantic City today as if you were in Boardwalk Empire.

Step Back Into the Roaring Twenties at Resorts Casino Hotel

Resorts Casino Hotel was the first casino hotel built in Atlantic City, and it was the first legal casino outside of Nevada when it opened in 1978. The resort has fully embraced the Roaring Twenties theme, with waitresses in flapper costumes with ornate Jazz Age headpieces. Even more of the service staff wear ‘20s-style costumes, from the security officers and doormen to the dealers and bellhops.

The site was originally two rooming houses: the Chalfonte House and Haddon Hall, the latter of which was built in the 1920s. The two towers are now called Rendezvous Tower and Ocean Tower, with hotel rooms that feature ornate beds, dark wood, leather chairs and sofas, and even 1920s-style telephones.

Take a Ride in a Rolling Chair

They weren’t always shaded, but rolling chairs have been a part of the Atlantic City boardwalk since 1876. You could often see these wicker rolling chairs in the background on Boardwalk Empire, pushed by attendants like a reverse rickshaw.

The chairs were the only vehicles allowed on the boardwalk, and they were intended for people who couldn’t walk. But everyone wanted to take a ride, and these wicker rolling chairs became the preferred mode of transportation on the boardwalk.

Powered carts started appearing in the 1960s, but it seems that people wanted to keep the history of it intact, and now the city proudly proclaims that its rolling chairs are all pushed by attendants. Several companies operate rolling chairs along the boardwalk, and all of them have shades now. This way, it’s easy to take in the sights while staying out of the sun (or staying dry on a rainy night).

Eat Where Nucky Dined at the Knife & Fork Inn

You can truly experience some Nucky Johnson history by grabbing a bite and a drink at the Knife & Fork Inn. It originated as an exclusive men’s drinking and supper club, and the second floor had the “ladies lounge” for working women to wait to be called upon — as they weren’t allowed at the bar itself. The upper floors had private rooms for private deeds.

Johnson was a regular at the Knife & Fork Inn, and his presence kept the place from being raided for serving alcohol for many years. Federal agents did eventually crack down on the place in the 1920s, destroying all of the bar’s contents.

The establishment changed ownership over the years, with the Latz family believing that Prohibition wasn’t going anywhere, so they removed the bar and turned the place into a public restaurant. After decades of serving local politicians, wealthy tourists, and Hollywood elites, the restaurant closed in 1997.

It was purchased anew in 1999, and major renovations began in the 2000s. The owners wanted to recapture the feel of the Knife & Fork’s 1920s roots, so they worked to respect the old building by restoring the original solid brass door and restoring the main dining room’s vaulted ceiling, under which is a Prohibition-era mural. The refurbished inn also has dramatic chandeliers, gorgeous wood floors, and exposed brick that all work to create an authentic atmosphere and a truly special experience.

Take a Moment To Stand in the Middle of It All

When you’re standing in the middle of the historic boardwalk, don’t forget to take a breath and smile at the fact that you’re connected to the whole of Atlantic City’s history and culture. Every bar, cabaret club, and casino is intimately connected to that boardwalk. Nucky could feel its pulse in Boardwalk Empire, and you might be able to as well if you let yourself.

Atlantic City is a site of drama and its own special brand of gaudy charm. Whether you want to visit Atlantic City in person or try the city’s offerings of online casinos, know that you’re keeping history alive by gambling in America’s Favorite Playground.