ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Nov. 7, 2025 — Tropicana Atlantic City and the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall were the big winners of the HEROtini Mocktail Challenge at the award night held Thursday, October 30 at Harbor Pines Golf Club.

With a total gift of $10,247 Tropicana won the Chairman’s Award as the top casino entry in the summer-long competition to find the most popular non-alcoholic mocktails for designated drivers.

Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall raised $6,547 to take top honors in the bar and tavern division among 24 participating establishments.

The mocktail contest raised an overall total of $48,000 for the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign and its mission to prevent drunk driving.

Gourmet Italian Cuisine took second place and Harpoons on the Bay third place among bars and taverns.  Harrah’s took second place and Caesars third place in the casino division.

In the “Best Tasting Mocktail” competition, Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall took first place in the Judge’s Choice category, Shay’s Restaurant came in second and Dock’s Oyster House took third.  In the “People’s Choice” category, Shays took the top prize, Josie Kelly’s Public House was second, and Tennessee Beer Hall was third.

The New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and other area business sponsors also contributed to the contest, held between July and October.

“We are excited to receive this award as recognition of the Tropicana’s commitment to the HERO Campaign and its life-saving mission,” said Joseph Giunta, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Tropicana Atlantic City.  “This contribution was the result of our summer promotion that invited Tropicana guests to dedicate a portion of their winnings to the charity in support of the casino’s “Ginger Spice” mocktail.”

“We and our Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall team are thrilled to have won top bar and tavern honors in the HEROtini contest,” said the bar’s general manager and partner Sal Spena. And it’s all for a cause we support and believe in.”

Both the Tropicana and Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall received large martini-glass-shaped HEROtini trophies at an award ceremony held Thursday, October 30 at Harbor Pines Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township. They also both won trips to attend future Phillies games next season in a private suite donated by the ARAMARK food service company.

In addition to highway billboards, the HERO Campaign has wrapped more than 40 police department patrol cars with its blue and yellow symbol and its signature message: “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.”  More than 100,000 motorists have taken the online HERO Pledge to be designated drivers for friends and family members.

Winning Team Photos

First Place Casino – Tropicana Atlantic City

Tropicana Food and Beverage Supervisor Kathleen Renda, Atlantic City Region Human Resources Vice President Michael Pompei and Tropicana Senior Vice President and General Manager Joseph Giunta accept the Chairman’s Award for their $10,247 first place contribution in the Casino Division.

First Place Bar and Tavern – Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall        

Vince D’Alessandro from OceanFirst Bank with  Tennessee Beer Hall partners Sal Spena and Mark Callazzo, winners of the First Place HEROtini Cup

Gourmet Italian Cuisine – Second Place Bar and Restaurant              

Debra Fox from AtlantiCare joins Matt Fox from Gourmet Italian Cuisine with Muriel and Bill Elliott

Harpoon’s – Third Place Bar and Restaurant

Patrick and Valerie Aiken with emcees Thomas Drayton and Whitney Ullman

Shay’s Restaurant – First Place People’s Choice Best Tasting Mocktail

Shay’s Restaurant Manager Patrick Lizza with Thomas Drayton and Whitney Ullman

Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall – First Place Judge’s Choice Best Tasting Mocktail

Sal Spena hoists the Best Tasting Judge’s Choice Mocktail Cup!