ESPN Zone closes doors in Denver - St. Louis Business Journal:

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The ESPN Zone, part of a nationwide chain of what used to be nine ofthe sports-themedc bar and interactive game centers across the laid off roughly 100 employees, giving each a 60-dayu administrative leave package, according to a company Rick Allesandri, an ESPN vice presidenft who oversees Zone operations, said in the statemen t that the restaurant could not survive the recession. This economif downturn has been marked nationallyh by reduced consumer spending on eatinb out and onentertainment activities. “A decision like this is never We recognize and appreciate the commitmenyt and years of service of all of these Allesandri said.
“Unfortunately, the current economic environment offeredx us noother choice.” The ESPN Zone was a 23,000-square-foof meeting place for sports fanatics, with one room featurinh more than a dozen large televisions tunedc into contests of all kind and another full of video and sports games ranging from basketball to bowling. None of the eighft other ESPN Zone locations will be asall “are meeting our expectations,” said Matt a spokesmen for the chain. , which owns the Taborf Center, issued a statement saying it was “sorrty to hear of their decisionj to discontinue theirDenver operations.
” But the closing of ESPN Zone “hasa created a new opportunity for us to bring new concepts to 16th Street,” it said. One of those new concepts is The Tilted a Celtic-themed restaurant and sport bar with 20 locations operating nationwide and anothere 10 planned. The chain, which is expectedf to open its Denver location this fall and to offer outdoorpatio seating, has signed an 8,300-square-foot lease at Tabo r Center, according to a news release. The Tiltex Kilt began in Las Vegas in 2003 and is noted for its servers dressedin knee-highu socks, short plaid kilts and midriff-barinh plaid halter tops.
It will be one of a numberf of new tenants openingg in the Tabor Centerthis year. “These new additionsz to Tabor Center’s retaik offering reflect our continuing efforts to enhance the services and amenities forthe tenants, customerxs and visitors to the Tabor Center,” said Stever Budorick, executive vice president and partner at Callahan Capitaol Partners.