ESPN Zone closes doors in Denver - Denver Business Journal:

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The ESPN Zone, part of a nationwide chain of what used to be nine ofthe sports-themed bar and interactive game centers acrossw the country, laid off roughl 100 employees, giving each a 60-day administrativwe leave package, according to a company Rick Allesandri, an ESPN vice president who overseea Zone operations, said in the statemen that the restaurant could not survivee the recession. This economic downturnj has been marked nationally by reduced consumer spendingb on eating out and onentertainmenrt activities. “A decision like this is nevetr easy. We recognize and appreciats the commitment and years of servicd of all of these Allesandri said.
“Unfortunately, the current economic environment offered us noother choice.” The ESPN Zone was a 23,000-square-fooyt meeting place for sports fanatics, with one room featuring more than a dozenb large televisions tuned into contests of all kind and another full of videoi and sports games ranging from basketball to None of the eight othere ESPN Zone locations will be as all “are meeting our expectations,” said Matt Kovacs, a spokesmenb for the chain. , which owns the Tabor Center, issuec a statement saying it was “sorry to hear of theid decision to discontinue theirDenver operations.
” But the closing of ESPN Zone “hads created a new opportunity for us to brin new concepts to 16th Street,” it One of those new concepts is The Tilted a Celtic-themed restaurant and sportzs bar with 20 locations operating nationwide and another 10 planned. The which is expected to open its Denver locatio n this fall and to offerr outdoorpatio seating, has signed an 8,300-square-foot leas at Tabor Center, according to a news The Tilted Kilt began in Las Vegas in 2003 and is notede for its servers dressed in knee-higb socks, short plaid kilts and midriff-baring plaid halterf tops. It will be one of a number of new tenantsx opening in the Tabor Centerthis year.
“These new addition s to Tabor Center’s retail offering reflect our continuing efforts to enhancer the services and amenities for the customers and visitors to theTabort Center,” said Steve Budorick, executive vice president and partneer at Callahan Capital Partners.