TJ Hartford's Sports Grille
| Source metadata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type | Companies/Brands |
| Dates | 2001-10-01 – 2008-02-17 |
| Tags | Chuck E. Cheese's |
| Contributors | sudo-trans-pony |
TJ Hartford's Grill & Bar (Formerly TJ Hartford's Sports Grille) was a single restaurant and company created by CEC Corporate on October 1, 2001 and lasting to February 17, 2008.[1][2] The only location was located at Lewisville, TX (1960 S Stemmons Fwy).
History
TJ Hartford's would begin as a concept within CEC Corporate to grow their restaurant business. As a juxtaposition to Chuck E. Cheese's children-centered marketing strategy, TJ's would appeal to an adult demographic by being a large contemporary dining restaurant- including a bar and multiple dozen TV's scattered throughout the building for sports entertainment. CEC Corporate considered TJ's to be '-a new expansion vehicle to compliment our future growth strategy'.[1] The company would be created as TJH Restaurant Group, Inc. in 2001. The first location would open on October 1, 2001[2], though another source also states September 2001- possibly a soft opening.[3] The restaurant would feature arcade games for additional entertainment, crafting special tokens for the machines. At some point the company would switch to quarters for play.[4] Plans to open a second TJ's in 2002 would be considered, but never materialized.[5]**
Rebrand
By April of 2003 the company's logo would change from a more fancy design to a rougher bolder look, alongside its name changed from TJ Hartford's Grill & Bar to TJ Hartford's Sports Grille. The company's website would also be given a brighter and flashier look, now with the slogan 'The Grill is on.' [6]
Marketing Changes
By mid-June of 2004, the company would reduce the cost for playing its arcade games from a quarter down to a nickel. A kids menu would also now be featured in the restaurant, alongside Happy Hour drink specials.[7] By November 29th of 2004 the company would begin offering fundraising parties for companies, where 10% of proceeds from food purchased would be given to the organization. By November 4th of 2006, the location would now offer late night specials.[8]
Closure
The store would close on February 17, 2008.[2] The location, its equipment, and its land would sell in April of 2008 for $1.3 million. In connection with the sale, a $0.8 million grain was also had with 'Other operating expenses'.[9]
Corporate Staff
Joe Elliott* - Director of Menu Development[2]
- Former head of product development for T.G.I. Fridays
Richard M. Frank* - Chairman & Chief Executive Officer[2] Jon M. Rice* - VP of Marketing[2]
- Also the VP of Marketing for CEC itself, both lasting till 2005.
References
Import provenance
Imported from Cheese-E-Pedia at source revision 274f085c7132d784f81b7a4cbd96e7a0922db854. Source material is provided under CC BY-SA 4.0.