Disney is said to be closing most of its ESPN Zone restaurants

[WDWKOOK]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-disney-20100609,0,3920492.story

 

[ChloroFiend]

Not too surprising, but disappointing at the same time.

The ESPNZone in the NYNY Casino is/was always a favorite hangover food spot after a long Vegas night....also a great place to watch some sports and have a few beers without putting down money on a game.

 

[RavenRob]

Here is the link about the Baltimore location:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-espnzone-closes-20100608,0,2510002.story

 

[CandyMandy]

This doesn't surprise me and the reasons go beyond the current economy. The whole themed chain restaurant sector has always been shaky - outside the Hard Rock Cafe, none of these concepts has done well at attracting continual repeat business. I.e., a visit to places like Planet Hollywood or the Harley Davidson Cafe has ended up usually being a "one-off" event done while on vacation to major tourism centers like Las Vegas or Orlando (as it was put in the article, "how many times can you look at Marylin Monoroe's dress?") That's why these are dying in secondary locations like Denver or Baltimore and are just barely keeping their heads above water elsewhere.

 

[Magix]

Not too surprising, but disappointing at the same time.

The ESPNZone in the NYNY Casino is/was always a favorite hangover food spot after a long Vegas night....also a great place to watch some sports and have a few beers without putting down money on a game.

I was just at NYNY this past weekend. ESPN was already shuttered. Wonder what they'll find to fill that spot in the casino?

 

[michelleiada]

I assume the one at Boardwalk will remain open as it is tied to a Disney property. We enjoy eating there at least once every vacation as my hubby is a sports fanatic! The food is just ok...the wings are the best thing on the menu IMHO...but the atmosphere is fun.

 

[doconeill]

I assume the one at Boardwalk will remain open as it is tied to a Disney property. We enjoy eating there at least once every vacation as my hubby is a sports fanatic! The food is just ok...the wings are the best thing on the menu IMHO...but the atmosphere is fun.

The ESPN Club at the Boardwalk is specifically excluded from the closings as it was not operated under the same division (it wasn't actually a Zone...)

The articles were kind of strange, saying that only those associated with a Disney property would stay open (perhaps they were thinking of the Club as well). There is only one such location - the one at DTD in Anaheim - but the LA location will also stay open as well. The LA one was a licensed franchise, and apparently they will franchise the DTD location as well as part of this, so Disney is not operating any Zones.

 

[RyMickey]

Has Disney settled on a new location for their Times Square-area Disney store? If not, the ESPN Zone's location seems like a decent spot -- certainly on a busy corner. (I'll admit, I've been out of the Disney loop for quite a bit -- with no vacation planned for the foreseeable future, I've avoided the boards and some Disney-related sites lately to keep the depression at a minimum ).

 

[PatMcDuck]

TDS Times Square is already under construction and opens this fall. It is in the former Virgin records location, I think.