Enterrium[3] (formerly known as Level 257 then Pac-Man Entertainment) is a contemporary American restaurant and video arcade located at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois.[2] The restaurant and entertainment destination was originally inspired by Pac-Man and the name refers to the famous kill screen, which occurs when the player reaches the 256th level of the original Pac-Man game, meaning "the next level of dining and entertainment".[4] It was owned by Bandai Namco Entertainment from 2015 to 2021, which also owns all Pac-Man-related intellectual property.[5] The restaurant celebrated its soft opening on March 2, 2015, and its grand opening in April 2015.[6]
| Enterrium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2015 |
| Owner(s) | Namco USA (2015–2021) Kiddleton (2021–present) |
| Head chef | Aaron Whitcomb[1] |
| Food type | Contemporary American |
| Street address | 2 Woodfield Mall |
| City | Schaumburg (village) |
| State | Illinois |
| Postal/ZIP Code | 60173 |
| Country | United States |
| Seating capacity | 1,000[2] |
| Reservations | OpenTable |
| Website | www |
In May 2021, the location was sold to Kiddleton, a joint venture between GENDA and Round One Corporation, and was rebranded as the Enterrium.[7]
Style
editIt sits on 42,000 square feet which was previously used as a warehouse for a Sears department store.[8] In addition, the restaurant also features sixteen boutique bowling lanes, table tennis and social sports, as well as video and board games in the Lost & Found Game Lounge.[9] The interior decor is up-scale modern urban-chic in style and includes levels of references to the video game character Pac-Man. The menu also features references to well-known video game terms of the 1980s, such as "1-UP", chocolate "power pellets", and "Game Over".[10]
History
editThe restaurant was first conceived as a prototype in 2013, when Namco announced that the restaurant (codenamed Level 256 at the time) was being developed in partnership with a restaurateur in Kansas City, saying that were eyeing the Chicago area for possible locations.[11] The restaurant celebrated its soft opening on March 2, 2015.[12]
In May 2021, Pac-Man Entertainment was sold to Kiddleton, following Bandai Namco's decision to withdraw the amusement facility business in North America, citing the COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacting their business.[13] Pac-Man Entertainment would be rebranded as the Enterrium, stripping the location of its Pac-Man theme.
Events
editThe restaurant celebrated the 35th anniversary of Pac-Man on Friday, May 22, 2015. It featured a live performance of "Pac-Man Fever" by Jerry Buckner of Buckner & Garcia.[14]
References
edit- ^ "The makers of Pac-Man bank on nostalgia to fuel themed eatery". December 16, 2014. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ a b "Pac-Man-inspired restaurant opens at Woodfield". February 23, 2015. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ^ "About - Enterrium". Enterrium. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ^ "Pac-Man Restaurant Now Open, Looks Amazing". Archived from the original on February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ "Pac-Man-themed eatery opening soon at Woodfield". December 30, 2014. Archived from the original on February 23, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ "Quality Time with Level 257". March 1, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
- ^ "Notice of Business Acquisition from NAMCO USA INC". GENDA. May 13, 2021. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ "Official Pac-Man Restaurant Coming To Chicago Next Month". December 19, 2014. Archived from the original on March 30, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ "Pac-Man-themed restaurant coming to Sears' Woodfield space". January 20, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ "Opening Alert: Look Inside Pac-Man Creators' Cavernous Restaurant and Entertainment Complex". February 23, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ "Namco planning prototype upscale entertainment restaurant to expand arcade business". Polygon. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ "Pac-Man the star of new eatery, entertainment complex in Woodfield Mall". February 25, 2015. Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ^ "Bandai Namco Will No Longer Handle Amusement Facilities in America". Siliconera. March 1, 2021. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ^ "Celebrate the 35th PAC-MAN™ Birthday Bash". May 22, 2015. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.