DJ COMMUNITY

Jay-Z Expanding 40/40 Clubs into Airports

*Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and his partners in the 40/40 Clubs have announced they will expand beyond locations in Manhattan and Atlantic City, and open spots in various airports across the country.

According to The Network Journal, Jay-Z has teamed with Delaware North Companies, a hospitality and food service company that runs dozens of national and regional brand restaurants and shops at more than 20 major U.S. airports.

The company operates at sports stadiums, entertainment complexes, parks, resorts and airports including marquee locations such as the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey, Delaware North-owned TD Garden in Boston, Los Angeles International Airport, Kennedy Space Center and Yosemite National Park.

The 40/40 venues, co-founded with Desiree Gonzalez and Juan Pérez, has had the typical share of troubles for a restaurant chain, such as labor disputes and the closing of unsuccessful locales ( i.e. 40/40 Las Vegas), but the chain overall has persevered, with plans to open this year in Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Tokyo and Macau.

The bar is named after the prestigious Major League Baseball achievement: when a player hits 40 home runs and steals 40 bases in a single season. Only four professional baseball players have every achieved this prestigious accomplishment: Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Jose Canseco and Alfonso Soriano. The four of these baseball greats have their jerseys displayed in the 40/40 Club in New York City.

The original 40/40 Club in Manhattan is scheduled to shut down from April to July of 2011 to undergo renovations.