GameWorks Entertainment, owner and operator of the GameWorks chain of entertainment venues featuring arcades, simulators, prizes and full service bars and restaurants, in the US, has acquired five locations from JBC Entertainment, operator of the Jillian's brand of entertainment centres and billiards halls.
GameWorks will now operate the Jillian’s locations in Seattle, WA, San Francisco, CA, Universal City, CA, and Chesapeake, VA. The company also now owns the Jake’s of Pasadena, CA, hamburger restaurant on historic Colorado Boulevard.
The company has no immediate plans to re-brand the venues and Dina Kelley, vice president of marketing for GameWorks Entertainment, said: "We have some ideas, but we are still formulating concepts. We’re excited at this opportunity to expand and make Jillian’s a part of the GameWorks Entertainment family of entertainment venues. The synergies between the brands are the primary reason for the merger."
JBC will continue to operate the Jillian’s locations in Manchester, NH, and Columbia, SC. The Jillian’s locations in Albany, NY, and Peoria, IL, are owned and operated by third parties. GameWorks Entertainment operates six GameWorks locations, including Ontario, CA, Tempe, AZ, Seattle, WA, Schaumburg, IL, Newport, KY, and in GWE’s home base, Las Vegas, NV. GameWorks also operates a sports bar and restaurant known as World Sports Grille, in Tucson, AZ.
The company acquired these seven locations from Japanese game giant Sega Amusements at the end of April and has said it is looking at other strategic acquisitions in the industry and is planning on developing at least one new location over the next 12 months.
