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uWink Introduces Franchise Program for Gaming-Themed Restaurants

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 4, 2006 - 3:31pm.
Los Angeles - uWink, the digital entertainment company founded by Atari and Chuck E. Cheese founder Nolan Bushnell, announced on Monday the launch of a national franchise program for its uWink gaming and entertainment-themed restaurants. The first uWink restaurant recently opened in Woodland Hills, Calif. While the company plans to open new company-owned restaurants in Southern California in the coming months, uWink will now also offer franchise partners the technological infrastructure, operational support, and media content needed to open uWink restaurants in selected areas of the country and internationally.
tags: Games | Commerce | Retail | uWink | Franchises | Food | Restaurants |

Redbox Extends DVD Rental Kiosk Deal With McDonald's

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 30, 2006 - 2:47pm.
Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. - Redbox, a maker of automated DVD rental kiosks, announced on Thursday that it has signed an agreement to install its machines in McDonald's restaurants, following a successful two-year test.
tags: Video | Movies | Commerce | DVD | Kiosks | Rentals | Retail | Food | Restaurants | Redbox | McDonalds |

NYTimes.com Launches Daily Restaurant, Nightlife E-Mail "Urbanite"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 2, 2006 - 3:05pm.
New York - NYTimes.com on Thursday introduced Urbanite, a weekday e-mail newsletter that will cover restaurants, bars, shopping, the arts and nightlife in New York City. The  newsletter will be written by Melena Ryzik and overseen by Arts & Leisure editor Ariel Kaminer.
tags: Internet | Online Publishing | Newspapers | News | NYTimes | New York | Food | Restaurants |

Buzz Watch: Maxim Opens… (wait for it) Steak Houses!

Authored by Jay Baage on October 26, 2006 - 10:49am.
Maxim Cover - Jennifer Love HewittMaxim, the men's magazine famous for featuring sexy women wants to extend its brand to another kind of flesh - a chain of about 15 steak restaurants - Maxim Prime. ”It will not be about overeating, it will be about the social experience of dining," says Stephen Colvin, chief executive of privately owned Dennis Publishing, the magazine's parent company.

Usually, when a magazine wants to boost its bottom line, it does it through licensing new ventures, usually in the Internet space. Progressive Dennis publishing recently announced such a move with the launch of Monkey Magazine. Read more about it in my article about coffee table porn here. Now, Dennis Publishing takes a more unexpected move in opening the steak houses together with financier Jeffrey Chodorow's China Grill Management.
tags: Marketing | Brands | Magazines | Publishing | Buzz watch | Maxim | Jay | Restaurants |

First uWink Digital Entertainment Restaurant to Open in California

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 11, 2006 - 1:03pm.
Los Angeles - uWink, a company launched by Atari and Chuck E. Cheese founder Nolan Bushnell, on Wednesday announced that its first digital entertainment restaurant will open on Monday in Woodland Hills, Calif. The restaurant will feature tables with touch-screen kiosks that allow patrons to both place orders and access games, movie trailers, horoscopes and other media. Games offered will allow patrons to play with others at their own table, engage other tables, and eventually challenge guests at other uWink restaurants.
tags: Games | Internet | Video | Tech | Entertainment | uWink | Food | Restaurants |