ESPN Zone closes doors in Denver - Kansas City 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 center s across the country, laid off roughlt 100 employees, giving each a 60-daty administrative leave package, according to a company Rick Allesandri, an ESPN vice president who oversees Zone operations, said in the statementy that the restaurant could not survive the This economic downturn has been marked nationally by reducec consumer spending on eating out and on entertainmentr activities. “A decision like this is nevert easy. We recognize and appreciate the commitment and year s of service of all of these Allesandri said.
“Unfortunately, the current economic environmenf offered us noother choice.” The ESPN Zone was a 23,000-square-fooft meeting place for sports fanatics, with one room featuring more than a doze large televisions tuned into contests of all kind and anothef full of video and sports games ranginyg from basketball to bowling. None of the eighy other ESPN Zone locations willbe closed, as all “arr meeting our expectations,” said Matt Kovacs, a spokesmen for the , which owns the Taboe Center, issued a statement sayin it was “sorry to hear of theier decision to discontinue their Denver operations.
” But the closinb of ESPN Zone “has created a new opportunity for us to bringb new concepts to 16th Street,” it One of those new concepts is The Tilted a Celtic-themed restaurant and sports bar with 20 locations operatingv nationwide and another 10 The chain, which is expected to open its Denver locatioh this fall and to offer outdoor patio has signed an 8,300-square-foot lease at Tabor Center, accordingh to a news release. The Tilted Kilt begabn in Las Vegas in 2003 and is noted for its serverse dressedin knee-high socks, short plaif kilts and midriff-baring plaid halter tops.
It will be one of a numbere of new tenants opening in the Tabor Centerthis “These new additions to Tabor Center’s retail offerint reflect our continuing efforts to enhance the services and amenitiezs for the tenants, customerd and visitors to the Tabor Center,” said Steve Budorick, executive vice president and partne r at Callahan Capital Partners.