Jay-Z Bringing 40/40 Club to Airports Across America

Now that his 'Decoded' book is on the New York Times Bestseller list, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter is looking to upgrade his 40/40 Club roster.

For the past few years his flagship lounge has been soiled with allegations of sexual harassment of its waitresses.

But, things seem to be looking brighter for his 40/40 brand.

The rap mogul, who is one of Forbes magazine's top celebrity earners, has now teamed with Delaware North Companies to bring his upscale sports bar to airports around the country. Currently, the hospitality and food service company operates dozens of restaurants and shops in more than twenty major U.S. airports.
According to the Delaware North Companies' vice-president of business development, Robert Stanton, the new venture will allow sports fans the opportunity to watch "every sports game you can think of" in an atmosphere which features personalized jerseys of some of today's hottest players.

40/40 co-owner Desiree Perez says that the new venture will certainly grow their business.

"The 40/40 Club is all about creating first-class experiences for guests who want to relax and watch their favorite games," Perez said. "We want to see our club grow, and to bring those experiences to travelers. A partnership with Delaware North will do just that."

In 2003, the Grammy Award-winning rapper opened the first 40/40 Club in his hometown of New York with partners Juan and Desiree Perez. Its name refers to the prestigious Major League Baseball achievement when a player hits 40 home runs and steals 40 bases in a single season – an achievement held by only four baseball greats including Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Jose Canseco and Alfonso Soriano.

The original 40/40 Club opened in 2003 will shut down for renovations from April until July of 2011. But, their second location in Atlantic City will remain open. The Brooklyn MC also had a 40/40 Club in Las Vegas for eight months before the Palazzo decided to turn the space into a sports betting window and buy it back.

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