Beloved Getaway Restaurants/Hotels/Amusements Victim of the Great Recession

[Doug11]

Sad in the way you say, "How could this happen to such an awesome place?" Post your business obits here, and hopefully there won't be too many.

ESPN ZONE - BUCKHEAD, GA

Dang, this caught me by surprise. I found out completely accidentally when I was checking out member benefits for D23 and failed to see my beloved Buckhead Espn Zone listed among the lineup of operating clubs nationwide. I wondered if I was mis-remembering its official name, but sadly, it is no more:

http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/09/28/daily90.html

ESPN Zone in Buckhead shuttered

Thursday, October 1, 2009

ESPN Zone struck out in the Atlanta market, unable to continue successfully in the recession.

The sports entertainment restaurant and bar on Thursday posted on its front doors a closure notice from Dominic Minniti, general manager for Disney Regional Entertainment.

“We have enjoyed being a part of the Buckhead business community for nearly 10 years. The overall economics of continuing this operation has given us no option but to close.”

ESPN Zone gave the restaurant’s 140 employees a 60-day administrative leave package. The popular spot opened in January 2000.

“A decision like this is never easy,” said Rick Alessandri, senior vice president of ESPN, in a statement. “We recognize and appreciate the commitment and years of service of all these employees. Unfortunately, the current economic environment gave us no other choice.”

>>>

[BeeJay]

But what about the Cheescake Factory?? :eek:

[Doug11]

Say it isn't so! Buckhead sure isn't what it used to be.

Every time I go to Destin, FL, there is a great deal of turnover in the restaurants. There is one huge building on the strip that has been a seafood restaurant, an italian restaurant and I don't know what else. God bless 'em. Another place we loved to eat breakfast was a little chrome boxcar called the Sandestin Diner. As of a year ago, it had disappeared. *poof*

[Hooker]

But what about the Cheescake Factory?? :eek:

Don't mess with my Cheesecake Factories. :chair

[Doug11]

One of my local favorites, certainly, and it will be sorely missed.


Emeril's Gulf Coast Fish House, at the Island View Casino (Gulfport, MS) will close after dinner May 29. "It's very difficult to end this business venture with our friends at the Island View," said Chef Emeril Lagasse.

The restaurant opened in 2007 in the hometown of Lagasse's wife, Alden, to help the Coast after Hurricane Katrina.

Darn - we've hosted our Christmas parties there for the past couple years, as well as a couple of milestone event receptions. It is a great menu and a great atmosphere. They have announced a steak house to replace it, so at least the space will not go unused.

This story was in today's news paper (not the online edition though) along with an announcement 3 schools will close in Biloxi due to budget shortfalls. Only a few years ago, Biloxi was blowing and going with one billion dollars in bond money expenditures for improvements to infra-structure. How quickly things change!

Alas, we will miss our Emeril's restaurant. :(

[pinkrose]

I noticed a few years ago that my favorite Cheesecake Factory in Buckhead was gone :( Maybe it moved to a different location. I have no idea. We were going to eat there one day and it was gone. We have one here in B'ham though.