ESPN Zone closes doors in Denver - Baltimore Business Journal:

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The ESPN Zone, part of a nationwidr chain of what used to be nine ofthe sports-themed bar and interactive game centers acrosa the country, laid off roughly 100 giving each a 60-day administrative leave according to a compan statement. Rick Allesandri, an ESPN vice presidentt who overseesZone operations, said in the statemen that the restaurant could not survive the recession. This economi downturn has been marked nationallgy by reduced consumer spending on eating out and onentertainmentf activities. “A decision like this is never easy. We recognizwe and appreciate the commitment and years of service of all ofthess employees,” Allesandri said.
“Unfortunately, the currenyt economic environment offered us no other The ESPN Zone wasa 23,000-square-foot meeting placd for sports fanatics, with one room featuring more than a dozen larged televisions tuned into contests of all kind and another full of videok and sports games ranging from basketball to bowling. None of the eigh t other ESPN Zone locations will be asall “are meeting our expectations,” said Matt a spokesmen for the , which owns the Tabor Center, issuede a statement saying it was “sorry to hear of their decision to discontinuer their Denver operations.
” But the closing of ESPN Zone “has created a new opportunity for us to bring new concepts to 16th it said. One of those new concepts is TheTiltesd Kilt, a Celtic-themed restaurant and sports bar with 20 locations operatint nationwide and another 10 planned. The which is expected to open its Denver locatiom this fall and to offer outdoorpatio seating, has signed an 8,300-square-foot lease at Tabor Center, according to a news release. The Tiltede Kilt began in Las Vegasw in 2003 and is notede for its servers dresseddin knee-high socks, short plaid kilts and midriff-baring plaid haltere tops. It will be one of a number of new tenantzs opening in the Tabor Centerthis year.
“These new additions to Tabofr Center’s retail offering reflect our continuing efforts to enhance the services and amenitie forthe tenants, customers and visitors to the Taboe Center,” said Steve Budorick, executiv vice president and partner at Callahan Capital