At a press conference in Atlantic City today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Jimmy Buffett announced that the Margaritaville brand is coming to the Jersey shore:

Margaritaville is coming to Atlantic City. The Margaritaville project, slated for Resorts, could be open as early as May, 2013. Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Steven Sweeney, Resorts executive Aaron Gomes and Jimmy Buffett were on hand to announce the project.

The Margaritaville complex will feature a casino, a year-round beach bar complex, a restaurant, Five O’ clock Somewhere Bar, retail stores, Landshark Bar and Grill, and the first-ever coffee shop among all of the Margaritaville properties. The Resorts facade will be re-themed with the Margaritaville brand.

More from Galloway Patch:

He said giving Resorts the Margaritaville makeover will be a $35 million project that will created about 250 construction jobs and about 162 permanent jobs for those living in the area. The project is expected to be completed by the spring of 2013.

He said in addition to a casino and restaurant, Margaritaville will offer a year-round beach bar and a coffee shop, among other luxuries.

“We have great things happening in Atlantic City,” said Christie, who referred to the South Inlet Improvement, the Boardwalk Relighting, and the Steel Pier Renovation projects.

Jimmy Buffett will appear with the governor of New Jersey on Tuesday at a press conference announcing plans for a major project, according to NJ.com:

A press conference will be held Tuesday to announce plans for a major project at Resorts Casino Hotel that will be a first for Atlantic City and the East Coast.

Governor Christie will be on hand and we just received word that Jimmy Buffett will also be in attendance.

The press conference take place at 2 p.m. on the boardwalk at Resorts casino hotel.

It has been rumored that plans were in the works for a Margaritaville in Atlantic City for some time now and this could be the official announcement we have been waiting for.

Philly.com reports that a deal has been struck to bring not one, but two Jimmy Buffett eating establishments:

According to the report, Resorts Atlantic City is entering into a multi-faceted deal with Buffet’s chain of casual dining-and-drinking spots. One element of the plan—which first surfaced last month—is the refurbishing of the Resorts-owned Central Pier, a long-decaying remnant of AyCee’s storied, pre-legal-gambling past. The pier will be the site of a Landshark Bar & Grill restaurant.

New to the drawing board is the planned construction of a Margaritaville Café inside Resorts. It is expected to replace the existing Breadsticks Café & Grill, the casino’s coffee shop, and the Beach Ball Café, which currently serves as a high-roller lounge. Both facilities front the Boardwalk.

The newest Margaritaville may be coming to Atlantic City, according to the Press of Atlantic City:

Steeplechase Pier, once the regular host to an 85-piece orchestra conducted by John Philip Sousa, could soon bear the name of another musician if it’s rebuilt as one of singer Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurants.

Resorts Casino Hotel has applied to the state for an environmental permit to rebuild the pier — destroyed in a 1988 fire — and construct a restaurant, bar and surf shop in its place. According to the casino’s application, the $6 million project would construct a Margaritaville Landshark Bar & Grill in the footprint of the former pier.

Aaron Gomes, executive vice president of operations at Resorts, said earlier this month that the casino has been talking to Buffett of “Margaritaville” fame and other potential developers about the site. It would be premature to talk about specific plans for the property, he said at the time.

Buffett’s involvement, however, would instantly bring some high-profile name recognition to the project if the singer becomes one of the developers — and that notoriety could draw larger crowds, which Resorts speaks to in its 78-page permit application.

The Margaritaville Casino & Restaurant in Biloxi is now open!

Jimmy Buffett christened his first stand-alone casino this afternoon with a special outdoor show that was broadcast live on Radio Margaritaville.

Here’s a look at the set list (hat tip Justin):

1. Stars on the Water
2. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere
3. License to Chill
4. Pencil Thin Mustache
5. Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
6. Son of a Son of a Sailor
7. The Pascagoula Run
8. Bama Breeze
9. Volcano
10. Come Monday
11. Margaritaville

Encore:

12. Fins

Check out a couple of interviews that Buffett gave today:

Huffington Post – Jimmy Buffett Talks About New Biloxi Margaritaville And His Hopes For The Gulf Coast
NOLA.com – Jimmy Buffett expands his Margaritaville brand to Biloxi casino