The Melting Pot at Atlantic City’s The Walk is offering free cheese fondue April 11-14 to give newcomers a taste of what the place is all about.
WHEN THE MELTING POT materialized on the Atlantic City scene a little over three years ago, its best promotional source was probably the curiosity seekers who started circulating word of a unique dining experience that allowed patrons to share and prepare dishes right at their own tables in little fondue pots.
It turned the typical dinner out with family and friends into an interactive social event, with every four-course meal capped with desserts that guests dip into various chocolate sauces to accentuate the experience. The A.C. location also does a series of special nights and social get-togethers like its monthly Girls Night Out parties, which have sold out nearly every night since they started in early 2009. The next two Girls parties are scheduled for Thursday, April 21, and Thursday, May 19, and include four courses, raffle prizes and live music for $32, and specially priced martinis and wine selections.
Since it opened, the Melting Pot has gained impressive momentum not only in the Atlantic City area but among its own franchise family. The Atlantic City Melting Pot — located adjacent to A.C. Outlets - The Walk on Atlantic Avenue — was rated the top-producing site of nearly 150 in North America last year. The company itself, which started as a single store near Orlando, Florida in 1975 and was turned into a conglomerate by three brothers, was the top-rated company by the Franchise Business Review for its division (among 16 franchises) in 2010. It has gained a reputation for having impressive wine selections in all its stores (the A.C. site includes about 260 brands) and for being among the nation’s most charitable corporate contributors, primarily toward the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In 2009, the A.C. store led the others there, too, by raising over $35,000 for St. Jude in about two months.
“That was a total team effort, and it was the best feeling to see the entire team pull together and make that happen,” says A.C. Melting Pot owner Charlie Haney, who opened his location in December 2007.
This Monday through Thursday, April 11-14, the A.C. Melting Pot is in a giving mode once again, but this time in an effort to introduce fledglings to the fondue experience. Haney and his staff will be giving away free cheese fondue over that four-day stretch in collaboration with corporate headquarters, and in recognition of April 11 as “National Cheese Fondue Day.” No purchase is necessary and the only requirement is that guests register in advance at 411iscoming.com or meltingpot.com.
“April 11 has become a national day for our brand, so in honor of that day we decided as a company to all participate in giving away free cheese with the hope that we would bring in new guests who have never experienced the Melting Pot before,” says Haney. “We’ll certainly still take your reservations if you’ve been here before, but we’re really targeting those people who might have said, ‘We’ve heard so many good things but we haven’t gotten around to trying it,’ and hopefully they’ll try it, they’ll find it a great experience, and we’ll see them again in the future.
“We’re encouraging people to go to 411iscoming.com to find out if reservations are still available on certain days. We still have to allow for our usual reservations, but we’ve blocked out so many tables per day over those four days to encourage new people to come in and see what a fun night out it can be. We want to win them for life.”
Each of the four days has 140 seats set aside for the free fondue promotion, which allows guests to choose from several different cheese fondue creations and a variety of breads, fruits and veggies to dip into the cheese. Each fondue course serves two people and is valued at $18. Reservations are limited to first-come, first-serve basis and are a requirement of the free fondue cheese offer. Valet parking is available seven days a week starting at 4pm weekdays. The valet is located next to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, which shares the service with Melting Pot.
Update: The Greater Atlantic City GLBT Alliance will be “stirring things up” at the Melting Pot on Wednesday, April 13, from 6-8pm. The Melting Pot will welcome the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender community) Alliance members and member organizations for a fun-filled evening of networking. Plus, members may bring a friend or two to check out the GLBT Alliance and consider joining. Enjoy an atmosphere of casual chic, complimentary fondue and cash bar. Members are free at the door with membership card, and may bring one or two guests for this special evening. Please register yourself and your guests by clicking here.
This GLBT population consistently frequents areas/genres that cater to multiple orientations. They are not limited to the old definition, but are more so driven to openly enjoy themselves in environments that are mutually sensitive — and not offensive.
We are, without the slightest hint of hyperbole, like nowhere else in the country. Maybe the world. New Jersey is known as the Garden State with good reason and this is the epicenter of that garden.
In a “news” box on the upper right side of the Archeophone Records home page, there’s a list of the songs played thus far in the first two episodes of HBO’s 'Boardwalk Empire,' set in 1920s Atlantic City.
Name: The Melting Pot Address: 2112 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City (at The Walk). 441-1100. Menu: Newly opened, upscale fondue restaurant. The most popular dinner is the Big Night Out, which feature...
Among the brightest spots on the stretch of Atlantic Avenue known as Atlantic City Outlets — The Walk shopping district is the A.C. outpost of the Melting Pot restaurant chain.
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1. Tony Boloney's said... on Apr 7, 2011 at 09:33AM
“Awesome ideas! We love the Melting Pot!!!”