Michael Jordan's Restaurant
Michael Jordan 's Restaurant was a restaurant and a sports bar, at 500 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, was.
Named after Michael Jordan, a former basketball player for the Chicago Bulls, the restaurant was once one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chicago. It was operated from 1993 to 1999, and shortly after Michael Jordan's second resignation from professional basketball sport.
Menu and attractions
Michael Jordan 's Restaurant praised itself as " sporty and casual " at, with an American menu. The menu contained a variety of dishes, such as steak, sole, pasta, burgers, ribs, chicken, pork chops and salads, as well as " Juanita 's Macaroni and Cheese ", which on a recipe from Michael Jordan's wife, Juanita Jordan, was based.
The restaurant was located in a three story building of red brick. On the roof of building a 7.6 m high model of a basketball was installed. At the entrance was a 9.1 times 9.1 meters large banner that shows Michael Jordan in a collage, is suspended. The first floor housed the sports bar, which offered space for 150 guests, a gift shop, and a 1.80 m by 6.10 m wide canvas. In addition to the sports bar was a large number of Michael Jordan Remembrance and fans pitfalls, including jerseys, trophies, shoes, pictures, Sports Illustrated covers and drawn Portraits of children of the basketball star. The 200 seats comprehensive main dining room, where a custom-built by the Chicago artist Ed Pasche Portrait Jordan was to see was on the second floor. The Jordan family had their own private space on the second floor. This was attended, according to the staff at least three times a week from Jordan. On the third floor of the building there was a meeting and banquet facilities.
Michael Jordan has received mixed reactions from critics. Eleanor Lee Yates of the Fayetteville Observer said the restaurant was a " pleasant surprise ", while Sandra Kallio from the Wisconsin State Journal praised it for " excellent food, excellent staff and relaxing atmosphere." Phil Vettel of the Chicago Tribune, however, judged it as " mediocre ".
History
Michael Jordan 's Restaurant was the brainchild of Joe and Gene Silverberg, owner of the clothing store Bigsby & Kruthers. They acquired the rights in 1990, to use Michael Jordan's name can and invested 6 million dollars for the realization of their idea. Jordan himself never owned shares in the restaurant, although by its own account, he had influence on the equipment, as well as the menu. He said he wanted that this should be a place where he can invite his family and friends for dinner.
The restaurant was opened on 28 April 1993. Guests at the opening ceremony were the Gouvenor of Illinois, Jim Edgar, Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley, actor Mickey Rooney and the comedian Jackie Mason. In the first few months after opening, the restaurant recorded up to 1500 guests and up to 7000 phone calls daily. Many guests waited for hours to get a table as the restaurant who accepted for dinner reservations. Michael Jordan 's Restaurant was a popular tourist attraction during the 90s and was an important meeting place for Chicago Bulls fans during the participation of their team to the NBA Championships.
In 1996, the first dispute between Jordan and the Silverberg's arose when Jordan allegedly tried to reshape the family-oriented restaurant in an upscale establishment. Opened in 1997, Michael Jordan himself his own restaurant in Chicago, officially known as Sixty Blue; at the same time he attended since then no longer the other restaurant, except for charity events. Jordan's eponymous restaurant still attracted the masses, though he there could no longer be seen. After Jordan's second resignation of the Silverberg's proclaimed that they wanted to transform the place into a Sammy Sosa's Restaurant, a famous Chicago Cubs baseball player, at the same time they planned Michael Jordan's Restaurant in a smaller building to reopen.
In October 1999, Jordan asked a federal judge with the request to terminate his contract with the Silverberg's because he had not been sufficiently informed of the two when it came to plans of a move. Jordan was also incensed that the Silverberg's the press mitt rushed, which he, as agreed, on a regular basis was not to visit the restaurant. He explained that he was never obliged to do so, and that the Silverberg's would thereby damaged its image. In December 1999, the Silverberg's closed the restaurant and finally acquired in June 2000, Jordan exclusive rights to use his name for restaurants in Chicago. Sammy Sosa's restaurant was never opened because Sosa claims to be " Michael Jordan not tread on the toes " wanted.
Memorabilia from Michael Jordan's restaurant were auctioned in June 2000 at an auction. Were 26 of these objects to the private collection of Silverberg's. In the building of a branch of Lalo 's Mexican Restaurant was operated until recently.