Anyone who grew up with Atari, the video game company known for arcade brands like Asteroids and Pong as well as a home game console, will have a chance to relive those memories in a theme hotel coming to Chicago.
Atari announced this week a deal with GSD Group, a Phoenix-based firm, to build hotels in major cities centered around the iconic brand. The first location will be in Phoenix, with additional hotels in Chicago; Las Vegas; Denver; Seattle; San Francisco; Austin, Texas; and San Jose, Calif.
GSD Group CEO Shelly Murphy said the firm, along with Napoleon Smith III, producer of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" film franchise reboot, will be in charge of hotel development and design. True North Studio, a Phoenix-based commercial real estate developer, also will be involved with building Atari Hotels.
Under a licensing agreement, Paris-based Atari will receive 5% of hotel revenues.
Murphy said the firm has been scouting sites in Chicago and moving fast to get an Atari Hotel in the city. "We've been to Chicago a number of times ... probably about a dozen times in the last six months," Murphy said.
The Chicago hotel would be bigger than the hotel in Phoenix, she said. Construction on that hotel is expected to begin later this year.
Atari Hotels said its locations will offer "immersive experiences" for all ages, including virtual and augmented reality, and certain locations will house esports events.
Smith said in a news release that the hotels will have a "nostalgic and retro meets modern" design.
