Everyone wants to take dining to the next level. Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones is actually going to try it. He is the latest in a line of football stars to enter the restaurant business, as he has partnered with Latitude 360 to open two new restaurants in Alabama, where he played his college ball, and Georgia, where he stars currently. Jones will have a minority stake in the two restaurants.
“This is an exciting investment and partnership, enabling Latitude 360 to expand into Alabama and Georgia, two states that are very important to me,” Jones said in a statement. “I’m pleased to be part of a quality organization that provides entertainment for a wide variety of consumers and corporate clients, including amazing food, sports theatre, grill, bar, dancing, luxury bowling, games, live entertainment and more.”
Luxury bowling? Fancy.
You always take a risk when you attach your names to these ventures, because often times your name can only take the success of the restaurant so far. Darryl Strawberry had a bar/restaurant in Queens named after him. And in the beginning, it was a wild success. But ownership changed and the place went under in just over two years. (It has since reopened under the management of the former head chef and a former assistant under a new name.) So the success of these new Latitude 360’s will depend on a lot of other factors other than Julio Jones. But if they fail, he’ll get the bad press.
But a restaurant that has a theater, live entertainment, and fancy bowling? I’m not sure what can go wrong there.
(Photo of Jones beating Antonio Cromartie with a one handed catch by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
