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A Very Sober Atlantic City

The closure of Atlantic City casinos in New Jersey has sobered the usually robust activity in the resort city.

"It's been like 'The Twilight Zone' around here," Rhonda Holland, a room service bartender said. She is hoping that the casinos would open by Friday evening. "It's just not the same without the customers."

Likewise, Vince Hedrick is desperate for a comeback. Hedrick drives a taxicab that usually services the gamblers from the casino hotels, and now there is no one to service.

"There's no business whatsoever," he said Friday afternoon. "I came in at 8 a.m. and I haven't had one job yet. They say they're going to open tonight and I hope they do. This is killing everybody."

The non-resolution of the state budget in New Jersey has forced the casino city to shut down its operations for the third day in Friday. "Every second that goes by, the situation gets worse," said Mark Juliano, chief operating officer of Trump Entertainment.

The shutdown is the first ever in N.J.'s 28 years of legalized gambling trade.

"Regardless of the hour, if they tell us we can open at 2 a.m. we'll open at 2 a.m.," said Tony Rodio, regional president of the Atlantic City Hilton and sister property Resorts Atlantic City. "The property is ready to go. Literally, all we have to do is take down the stanchions and the signs and open the property back up."

"As you can see, we have no cars," complained Taj Mahal valet parker Mariusz Kuzian, referring to the valet parking area in front of the casino Friday. "Usually, we give out 200 tickets a shift. This is a huge difference."

The guests are likewise in a huff.

"It's extremely frustrating," Carl Taylor, 41, of Yorktown, Va. Said. He is vacationing with his wife Janet. "We'd never been here. Our first time to Atlantic City and it's shut down."