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 PANASONIC PLASMAS, DLP PROJECTORS “WOW” THE CLIENTELE
OF CHAMPPS ENTERTAINMENT’S HIGH-END RESTAURANTS/SPORTS BARS
New Philadelphia Sites Feature 50” and 42” Plasmas, Single 3-Chip DLP Projectors
SECAUCUS, NJ (December 5, 2004) – Patrons of Champps restaurants, one of the country’s fastest-growing chains of upscale restaurants/sports bars, are increasingly diverted from their tempting entrees and handcrafted cocktails by the sight of professional and college sports stunningly displayed on Panasonic’s high-contrast plasmas displays and DLP projectors.
Since last spring August, parent company Champps Entertainment, Inc. (Littleton, CO) has invested in a substantial number of 42” and 50” professional high definition plasmas and single-chip mid-to-large venue DLP™ projectors to provide its customers a level of video entertainment they are unlikely to find at home.
Two new restaurants located in the Whitman Square and Penn ’s Landing developments properties in downtown and northeast in Philadelphia are exclusively equipped with Panasonic display technology, including five 50” HD plasmas, four 42” HD plasmas, and two PT-D5500U DLP™ projectors (in rear-view configurations feeding 100” and 115” screens) in each facility . Additional 50” and 42” HD plasmas and PT-D5500Us have been purchased to replace the plasma ou t dated standard televisions in 10 existing Champps restaurants.
The two Philadelphia-area restaurants are similarly configured, with the 50” plasmas installed throughout the approximately 8300 6,500-square-foot restaurants main dining room, and the 42” plasmas situated in 2 separate a 2000-square-foot side dining area s, where small-to-medium sized parties might choose to bring in their own video material to display. The PT-D5500U projectors are installed in the larger dining area; up to six feeds can be displayed on the 115” screen (in combinations of 1, 3 or 6), while four feeds can be shown on the 100” screen (in combinations of 1 or 4).
 Champps’ Vice President of Construction and Design David Miller attended the INFOCOMM trade show last spring with a mandate to evaluate alternatives to the style a vendor who was ceasing production of of the video walls then installed in most of the company’s restaurant sites.
“We looked at everyone’s equipment,” Miller recalled. “Panasonic set up a demo for us of its single-chip and three-chip DLP projectors, and we were very impressed with the projectors’ quality and economics. They were much smaller than anything we’d looked at. The single-chip PT-D5500U model became available first, and its 5000 lumen count (5000) produced a very was desirable picture high for a restaurant setting. It had the brightness we required, and was ideal in terms of size and affordability.”
He continued, “So far, we’ve been very pleased with the projectors’ performance. They were easily installed, and would certainly be easier to swap out than a multi cube video wall, if needed. The PT-D5500U has a long life lamp—twice that of competitive models—which is terrific, as we have them running 15 hours a day. ”
“People can’t figure out how the projector works, which we like. We don’t want our patrons to feel like they‘re watching last year’s technology at Champps, or that it’s something they might run out and buy on sale at a local Audio/Video store. Circuit City . The company ’s style is to keep our visual effects and menu on the cutting edge.”
 Miller said he intends to substitute the single-chip PT-D5500U or the three-chip, 7000 -lumens PT-D7700U projectors for aging video walls in many of the all those restaurants already retrofitted with professional plasma displays.
He continued, “The Panasonic plasmas are totally in keeping with our restaurants’ sophisticated atmosphere. We view the plasmas as pieces of décor—much like our Warhol and Jasper Johns prints—and as such they are aesthetically very pleasing. As we purchase additional plasmas, our thinking is to move towards the larger sizes—Panasonic’s current 50” model and the upcoming 65” HD model—as we want to maintain the ‘wow!’ factor with our clientele.
“We’re confident in the technical achievement of the plasmas, their image quality is superb, and we feel we can count on Panasonic service, which is really the bottom line in our business. When the fan comes in to watch the NFL game on a Sunday afternoon, it ’d better be up there and playing!”
Panasonic Broadcast recently introduced its seventh generation of professional plasma displays consisting of five new 7-Series models, the 65” TH-65PHD7UY, 50” TH-50PHD7UY and 42” TH-42PHD7UY high definition panels, and the 42” TH-42PWD7UY and 37” TH-37PWD7UY standard definition panels. The new 7-Series family boasts Panasonic’s phenomenal image quality, high contrast (4000:1 on SD models and 3000:1 on HD units) and multi-slot functionality, plus they incorporate significant improvements in peak brightness, displayable colors, 60,000-hour service life*, multi-screen capabilities and customization options.
The Panasonic PT-D5500U is the world’s brightest one-chip, mid-to-large venue DLP™ projector. With an ultra brightness of 5,000 lumens and compact design, the new super-quiet projector is highly suited for mid-to-large size venues from restaurants to universities. The benefits of long-life DLP, a Texas Instruments’ technology, make the projector ideal for demanding, non-stop 24/7 applications. The PT-D5500U is equipped with a completely-sealed, dust-free, fluid-cooled optical system. New Panasonic-exclusive optical technologies deliver an impressive contrast ratio of over 1600:1.
About Champps Entertainment
Littleton, Colo.-based Champps Entertainment, Inc. currently owns and operates 50 43 Champps restaurants and franchises 12 13 Champps restaurants in 22 states. Champps, which competes in the upscale dining segment, offers an extensive menu consisting of freshly prepared food coupled with exceptional service. Champps creates an exciting environment through the use of videos, music, sports and promotions select markets throughout the U.S. Champps is an upscale casual dining restaurant that offers a broad menu consisting of freshly prepared food coupled with exceptional service. Additionally, Champps creates a visually exciting environment through the use of advanced audiovisual techniques and several large-screen displays that offer a variety of programming ranging from business news, popular games shows and sporting events. For more information, visit the company’s web site at www.champps.com . |
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