eSports Gaming Center And Lounge Planned For Logan Square Storefront

LOGAN SQUARE — A 27-year-old financial consultant is looking to open a gaming center and lounge dedicated to competitive video gaming on Logan Square’s Milwaukee Avenue.

The new business is planned for the corner storefront at 2741 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Like other eSports gaming centers around the country, the Logan Square spot will offer computer setups and a projector so gamers can play in a group and project the games on a big screen for everyone to watch, said founder Adam Abbas.

The center will also have a separate lounge area with a snack bar. The menu will include craft beer, cocktails and finger foods like sandwiches and pastries.

Abbas, a gamer himself, said his goal is to bring people together and create a social experience for those who enjoy playing and watching others play “fun and engaging” video games like “Fortnite” and “League of Legends.”

“A lot of people have this stigma of us sitting in our mom’s basement playing ‘Zelda,’ but that’s just not the case,” Abbas said.

In order to sell alcohol, Abbas needs city approval to lift the liquor moratorium on the block. A City Council committee approved the measure last week, but it still needs approval from the full City Council.

An increasing number of eSports gaming centers are popping up in cities across the country as the industry grows in popularity. The Chicago area is home to at least two such centers: one at DePaul University and another in suburban Skokie called Ignite Gaming Lounge.

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Categorized in: Esports News