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Out with the old and in with the new. At least that's how Borgata feels regarding their existing nightlife properties. The marina casino announced plans to build a new $14 million nightlife experience called Premier Nightclub.

(NJ.com file photo)

Out with the old and in with the new -- at least that's how Borgata feels regarding its existing nightlife properties. The marina casino plans to build a new $14 million nightlife experience called Premier Nightclub in place of mur.mur and its already-shuttered MIXX.



The move will give the city's nightlife a much-needed shot in the arm as well as elevate tourist choices to bring on par with other nightlife meccas. The once mighty gambling town has seen brutal competition from neighboring states in the past few years. As a result, four of the city's 12 casinos closed in 2014 -- Showboat, Atlantic Club, Revel and Trump Plaza.



The massive 18,000-square foot venue will occupy the former MIXX space and a new expansion, and will open in spring 2016.

When it opened in the summer of 2003, Borgata ushered in a new caliber of casino. It wasn't trying to be Las Vegas-like -- it was Las Vegas-like with such amenities as premium bottle service, A-list deejays and artists.

But why the change in one of the few Atlantic City properties that never seems to be flailing? "Nearly 13 years later, we felt now was the ideal time to once again redefine nightlife entertainment with a venue designed to rival the top clubs in Las Vegas, Miami, and New York," says Joe Lupo, senior vice president of operations for Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, in a statement.

Borgata is certainly bringing in the big guns for the project. Josh Held, the visionary designer behind such iconic nightspots as Marquee NYC, TAO Las Vegas and Voyeur Los Angeles, will be at the helm for the new space.

Ornate yet modern is the way Borgata sees the new nightclub. There will be tiered booths focused on the deejay booth and artist stage. The main room will be flanked by two 35-foot-long bars with carved stone facades flanked by a sweeping staircase with hand-welded bronze, taking guests up to the horseshoe-shaped mezzanine. Upstairs, a 6-foot disco ball will help complement a 25-foot-wide chandelier.

Celebrity chef Michael Symon will be opening his first Italian concept restaurant at Borgata in Atlantic City next year.

Earlier this month, Borgata announced a shake-up in its restaurant row: Celebrity chef Michael Symon will be opening his first Italian restaurant at the resort, joining fellow Iron Chefs Bobby Flay and Geoffrey Zakarian there. He'll be in the space vacated three years ago by Michael Mina's SeaBlue. Symon, a Cleveland native and James Beard winner whose robust flavors have made his hometown an unlikely culinary destination, is also a co-host of "The Chew" on ABC.

But Symon's Italian concept is dooming another Borgata restaurant, Fornelletto, a regional Italian eatery from chef Stephen Kalt, who opened a new California-Mediterranean restaurant in Los Angeles earlier this month. Fornelletto will close when Symon's restaurant opens in the fall; Borgata has not yet announced plans for Fornelletto's subterranean space.

Anthony Venutolo may be reached at avenutolo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @AnthonyVenutolo and Google+. Find NJ.com on Facebook.