Article updated: 4/22/2014 5:26 PM

Namco Entertainment Inc., the Wood Dale-based company affiliated with the makers of Pac-Man, plans to open a high-end, gaming-themed restaurant and entertainment center at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg.

The new concept restaurant, including eight lanes of bowling, will open in 40,000 square feet of warehouse space formerly used by Sears on the upper level of the mall, according to Schaumburg.

It will have its own exterior entrance, but no entry from inside the mall, said Schaumburg Economic Development Manager Matt Frank.

The restaurant itself will offer high-level fine dining, but reflect the company brand through use of a Pac-Man motif and memorabilia, Frank said.

The space also will include video games and four bowling lanes on each side.

Though plans only recently were filed with the village, approval and construction are expected to be swift enough for the restaurant to open in time for this year's Christmas shopping season, Frank said.

"It's going to be a major player for us," he said. "It's a very cool concept. We're anxiously awaiting them getting that open."

Though Schaumburg is planning for an entertainment zone near the village's convention center at Meacham Road and the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, there's little concern about the Namco restaurant being in competition with that, Frank said.

The village was reluctant to pass up such a present-day opportunity, he added.

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Gaming-themed restaurant planned for Woodfield

The new eating scene coming to Brookfield Place, the reconfigured retail and restaurant portion of what used to be called the World Financial Center, is almost too much to swallow.

Its scale is hard to grasp even after a stroll through the construction site. Brookfield Properties $250 million reinvention of the office complexs public spaces doesnt simply replace the stores and restaurants that previously occupied the corridors and courtyards adjoining the Winter Garden.

In fact, the new layout including two vast floors of eating options and alfresco dining terraces facing the North Cove yacht marina will be largely unrecognizable to anyone who remembers the awkward former setup.

HPH restaurant group partners Peter Poulakakos and Paul Lamas will soon launch Le District, a French-themed marketplace and eating zone adjoining the Winter Gardens south side at the foot of 225 Liberty St. (the previous 2 WFC), with a mind-boggling 1,000 seats indoors and outdoors. Comprising more than 37,000 square feet, its been called a French Eataly by some.

And the ground floor of Le District sits directly beneath a second mammoth venue, Hudson Eats a 35,000- square-foot noshing zone that landlord Brookfield is racing to complete. Its 14 high-end fast-casual counters of such foodie faves as Blue Ribbon Sushi and Dos Toros Taqueria will serve 600 diners.

In addition, there will be five freestanding restaurants along Brookfield Places northern Vesey Street boundary.

So many choices promise a culinary sea change for FiDi and Battery Park City, whose combined population has doubled to 60,000 in 15 years. The World Trade Center will welcome Cond Nast and other tenants next year. The new food complex is so ambitiously conceived that its likely to draw customers from farther afield as well.

Brookfield national retail leasing director Ed Hogan said, We conservatively project all the food operations, including nearly 2,000 seats, will generate over $120 million in sales in the first year but more likely in the $160 million range. The higher figure would be more than four times what the old Tavern on the Greens 800 seats grossed in its best years.

Asked whether Hogans estimate sounded right, Poulakakos laughed and said, Wow! I havent been to those meetings. I hope theyre correct. But a lot of people need to eat down here.

HPH is spending north of $15 million on Le Districts buildout, Poulakakos said. Neither he nor Hogan would discuss terms of HPHs 20-year triple-net lease except to say that it was a combination of base rent and a percentage over break-even.

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Brookfields $250M development rocks downtown

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -

A Liberty Street convenience store will be remodeled into a combination restaurant and storage facility after garnering the blessing of the Allentown Zoning Hearing Board Monday night.

Zoners, who heard arguments concerning The Campus Shop at 2301-2303 Liberty Street last month,grantedaspecial use applicationfiled by theOSBATT Development, LLC by a 2-1 margin.

Chairman Daniel McCarthy and Juan Camacho voted in favor of the application with Michael Engle casting a dissenting vote.

Zoning Hearing Board member R. Scott Unger did not vote.

McCarthy said the proposed 1,695 square foot restaurant is a very low intensity use, would generate significant walk-in trafficand not adversely affect the neighborhood.

Conditions for proposed restaurant include that it will not serve liquor, will close by 10 p.m., have a maximum load of 30 patrons, and would not utilize the roof. Deliveries leaving the restaurant by car are also not allowed under the conditions.

Jason Lund, of OSBATT Development, said he has talked to five potential food service operators, but does not have a restaurant tenant for the building, located across from Muhlenberg College.

Lund said the walk-in storage business in the building's basement will hold high school-sized lockers as a convenience pay service for college students.

The top floor will sport a remodeled four-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment, said Lund, who is in the process of purchasing the building from its current owners.

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Allentown zoners OK plan for Liberty Street convenience store

Savvy restauranteurs are as fresh and innovative as the food they serve. While diners view fast-food restaurants as convenience on a budget, they want more from other dining-out experiences. Given the rising costs of fuel and food, todays diners expect their investment to be personalized, enjoyable and quite possibly, a two-three hour reality-escape with culinary-wow. Successful owners and investors know that the right restaurant designer and contractor can turn a plan on paper into an experience worth remembering. And that adds up to word-of-mouth advertising and repeat business.

Recent trends show restaurants becoming smaller, greener and turning up in unlikely places. To capture more of a shrinking market, owners are becoming more innovative in their cuisine and restaurant design and aware of potential appeal to different demographic markets. But, before settling on a concept or design, owners must make basic decisions that will affect their return on investment: Do I go with new construction? Do I convert an existing restaurant site or a non-restaurant site? Or, do I consolidate my restaurant with another food establishment or related business?

Michael Mihos Construction blends function, style and a hands-on approach in their restaurant designs and renovations. With decades of experience, Michael Mihos Construction can guide you through the staggering number of decisions necessary for building or renovating a restaurant.

A lion sculpture proudly stands guard at the Golden Lion Tavern in San Diegos Gaslamp Quarter daring any more disruptions. The Golden Lion Tavern, built in 1906, has weathered Prohibition, several address changes, a major fire and a return to its original location. After the establishment was gutted by fire in the 80s, Michael Mihos Construction took on its restoration and redesign and crafted it into a restaurant with personality and functionality. The restaurant features a spectacular stained-glass domed ceiling; several beautiful, one-of-a-kind murals; a 25-stool bar; and a kitchen designed to produce mouth-watering meals.

Golden Lion Tavern 801 4th AvenueSan Diego, CA Restaurant Design

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Restaurant Construction Renovation Remodel Design San ...

CRESWELL, Ore. Word is quickly spreading around Creswell that the bar at TJs is back open after a fire shut down the business for the last four months. In just a few weeks, the restaurant will be serving its popular dishes in the newly remodeled dining room.

From a pile of ashes to a brand new bar, thereve been a lot of changes at TJs Restaurant during the past four months. When the fire hit us it totally destroyed the entire contents. So we went all the way back to the studs an so everything you see here is brand new, said Tom Nelson, TJs Restaurant owner.

Investigators originally estimated it would cost around $300,000 to repair the restaurant, but the smoke damaged all of the equipment so badly that everything had to be replaced. Now were in at a little over $800,000 and that will go higher probably closer to $900,000 when its all said and done, said Nelson.

While the bar stools sat empty on this Easter Sunday, theyve been full of customers old and new during the past few days. All of our business has come back and in addition to that weve picked up some new younger clientele because the bar now is so much for older citizens, but for younger citizens in the community as well, said Nelson.

With a new color scheme and more TVs, the changes to the bar are apparent. Theyll also be obvious once the restaurant construction is complete. We have 130 items on the menu, but we wanted to add a few dinner menu items which weve done. Were not changing the menu pricing. Were not changing the existing items, were just adding to it, said Nelson.

But while the spot pretty much has a whole new look, the owner said people who crave a late night breakfast can still find their favorite dishes on the menu at any time of the day. So we want our community to know that were going to be right back where we were before the fire occurred, said Nelson.

Nelson said his goal was to be up and running at the beginning of May because just under half of their business comes from people driving through the area during the summer.

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Creswell Restaurant Reopening After Fire

Revamped McDonalds restaurant at Clifton Moor creates 40 new jobs

11:12am Thursday 17th April 2014 in News By Laura Knowlson, Business editor

Forty new jobs have been created in York as fast food chain McDonalds re-opens its Clifton Moor restaurant.

The restaurant, which has undergone a redesign, is now under the ownership of new franchisee John Atherton, alongside the Monks Cross, Blake Street, and Designer Outlet McDonalds.

Mr Atherton and his wife Ann held an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the reopening of Clifton Moor, which is one of only a handful of restaurants in the UK to feature McDonalds new wood and stone design.

Dining tables in the restaurant now include built in Samsung tablets, while the restaurant itself includes leather Chesterfield sofas, designer lighting and free Wi-Fi.

Mr Atherton said: As a local businessman, I understand the importance of investing in the community, so its great to be able to play a part in the re-generation of the area and bring an extra boost to the local economy.

Its not just about providing a fresh, new environment though; I also believe in investing in my people and am delighted to be able to create around 40 new jobs as a result of the re-design.

"With excellent training programmes and career opportunities, including the apprenticeship scheme, on offer to all of McDonalds employees, I hope the roles will appeal to a broad spectrum of people across York.

The refurbishment has also included a new concept drive-thru aimed at giving customers a quicker and smoother experience when ordering, along with enabling them to place bespoke orders.

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Revamped restaurant creates 40 new jobs

Nanggu Bali Island Development by Palm3Beach and SpaceLineDesign Architects
Beautiful 30 acre tropical island development with 20 majestic modern villas, spa restaurant, private beaches and 20m yacht dockage. Jeff Page of SpaceLineDe...

By: Jeff Page

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Nanggu Bali Island Development by Palm3Beach and SpaceLineDesign Architects - Video

Friday, April 18, 11:55 AM EDT

By Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor

Edwin Watts Holding Co. is the landlord. The 167-seat caf is at the northern end of the building.

The first caf for the Dallas-based company is being developed at the Shoppes on Riverside in Downtowns Riverside area and is expected to open late this year.

The city is reviewing plans for tenant improvements for Corner Bakery Caf Southpoint in more than 4,300 square feet of space, along with an outdoor patio, at the Bonneval location. The project cost is $550,000. No contractor was identified.

Corner Bakery Caf is a fast-casual restaurant that offers made-to-order breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as catering.

Downtown, the Corner Bakery will occupy a 4,000-square-foot building under construction at 192 Riverside Ave. in front of The Fresh Market.

In September, the company said it plans to open as many as 10 restaurants in the area as part of a multi-unit restaurant franchise agreement with Lee Wesley Group LLC, whose manager is Arthur Lee, president and CEO of Lee, Wesley & Associates LLC, Lee Wesley Group LLC and Lee Wesley Restaurants LLC.

Lee Wesley Group LLC also owns and operates several Panda Express, Burger King, Nathans Famous, Auntie Annes and Taco Bell restaurants.

Corner Bakery Caf says its made-to-order menu features hot breakfast scramblers, paninis and sandwiches, homemade soups, salads, pastas and sweets.

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Corner Bakery plans Bonneval Road caf

Tex-Mex enthusiasts will have a new restaurant to frequent later this year as Gringos Mexican Kitchen will open its 11th Houston-area location in Spring.

Construction recently started at 19330 Interstate 45 North near Top Golf and will be finished by September, Director of Operations Frank Martinucci said. The restaurant will employ around 140 staff members with a mix of full-time and part-time positions and will feature a patio, bar area and a playground for children in the waiting area.

Martinucci said the company has wanted to move toward The Woodlands and take advantage of the rapid growth in the area.

Its a great location along the highway; and when we heard Top Golf was opening, it was a good thing that really helped seal the deal, Martinucci said.

The restaurant will be modeled after the most recent design, which was incorporated into the Gringos Mexican Kitchen in Cypress, built in 2012, Martinucci said. The restaurant offers fun colors, plenty of booth seating, artwork and other decorations. A banquet room will be available for large parties and other events.

A daily schedule for the restaurant has not been finalized, but it probably will be similar to other Gringos locations, Martinucci said.

Our closing times will probably vary between 9 and 10 p.m. depending on the day of the week and what the local community desires, Martinucci said.

For more information about Gringos Mexican Kitchen, visit http://www.gringosmexicankitchen.com.

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Construction begins on new Gringos restaurant in Spring

Responding to community uproar over a planned McDonalds drive-thru restaurant near Gonzaga University, the Spokane City Council this week imposed an emergency six-month moratorium on similar projects along Hamilton Street in the Loganneighborhood.

Its a largely symbolic effort since the moratorium wont stop construction of the drive-thru at Augusta Avenue and North Hamilton Street, nor are there any other similar projects in the pre-planning stages at thispoint.

But it gives the neighborhood an opportunity to put the finishing touches on new development standards intended to promote a pedestrian-friendlyatmosphere.

We have some holes in our

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Responding to community uproar over a planned McDonalds drive-thru restaurant near Gonzaga University, the Spokane City Council this week imposed an emergency six-month moratorium on similar projects along Hamilton Street in the Loganneighborhood.

Its a largely symbolic effort since the moratorium wont stop construction of the drive-thru at Augusta Avenue and North Hamilton Street, nor are there any other similar projects in the pre-planning stages at thispoint.

But it gives the neighborhood an opportunity to put the finishing touches on new development standards intended to promote a pedestrian-friendlyatmosphere.

We have some holes in our current design standards, said Councilwoman Amber Waldref, whose district includes the Logan neighborhood. What we found with the McDonalds development is that theres clearly someinconsistencies.

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Council puts hold on additional projects like McDonalds on Hamilton - Thu, 17 Apr 2014 PST