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Sands Gambles on Madison Renovation

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey – As reported by the Press of Atlantic City: "Fighting for attention among the gigantic, neon-splashed casinos that surround it, one of Atlantic City's few remaining grand old hotels uses a rooftop sign to beckon visitors.

"…But it is its understated elegance, not the oversized sign, that makes the 74-year-old Madison so special. Its red-brick Colonial Revival architecture, accented by decorative awnings and arch-shaped windows, has a dignified air.

"Step inside the old lobby and you're treated to marble floors, coffered ceilings, stained-glass murals, chandeliers and a graceful staircase that is a replica of the one in Philadelphia's Independence Hall

"… 'It's got a different feel to it than anything else in Atlantic City, because it's not a casino. It could be transplanted to Cape May. In the end, it's going to be a grand hotel,' an admiring George Toth said.

"Toth, president of the Sands Casino Hotel, was referring to a $7 million restoration project that has recaptured the Madison's celebrated past. Capitalizing on the hotel's genteel pedigree, the Sands junked earlier attempts to make the Madison into a casino-like companion and instead is transforming it into an all-suite, bed-and-breakfast-style property.

"…The Sands controls the Madison through a 30-year lease with its private owner, the Madison House Group. The two properties are connected by a skybridge, and the Sands uses the Madison as lodging for its gamblers.

"The Sands has been refurbishing the Madison since 2001 and expects to finally complete the project early next year. The hotel's old rooms, 250 in all, have been converted into 126 mini-suites…"

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