TJ Hartford's Sports Grille
April 2003 Logo
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".[3]
The company would be created as TJH Restaurant Group, Inc. in 2001. The first location would open on October 1, 2001[1], though another source also states September 2001- possibly a soft opening.[4] 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.[5]
Plans to open a second TJ's in 2002 would be considered, but never materialized.[6]
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." [7]
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.[8] 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.[9]
Closure
The store would close on February 17, 2008.[1] 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".[10]
Corporate Staff
- Joe Elliott - Director of Menu Development[3]
- Former head of product development for T.G.I. Fridays
- Richard M. Frank - Chairman & Chief Executive Officer[3]
- Jon M. Rice - VP of Marketing[1]
- Also the VP of Marketing for CEC itself, both lasting till 2005.
Gallery
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2001 Logo -
April 2003 Wordmark -
April 2003 Black Logo
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20020605030127fw_/http://www.tjhartfords.com/company.html
- ↑ https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/c/NYSE_CEC_2007.pdf
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20020605030127/http://www.tjhartfords.com/company.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20020209004806/http://dfw.citysearch.com/E/V/DALTX/0233/22/17/cs1.html
- ↑ https://www.showbizpizza.com/ceccollect/related/index.html
- ↑ https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/c/NYSE_CEC_2001.pdf
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20041129040954/http://tjhartfords.com/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20040614141124/http://tjhartfords.com:80/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20061104111142/http://www.tjhartfords.com:80/
- ↑ https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/c/NYSE_CEC_2008.pdf