UWink

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uWink logo
uWink logo

uWink, Inc. (stock symbol: UWNK) is a publicly-traded digital entertainment company based out of Los Angeles, California. The company was founded in 2000 by Nolan Bushnell, the founder and former CEO of both Atari and Chuck E. Cheese. After developing interactive entertainment for restaurants, bars and mobile devices for several years the company focused its efforts on bringing their uWink Bistro restaurant concept to market in 2006.

The uWink Bistro is a unique dining experience in that there is a touchscreen video terminal at each table. Patrons complete their order through the video screen which supports extensive customization in both food and drink orders. The order is instantaneously transmitted to the kitchen where cooks can immediately begin the preparation. This eliminates the need for a wait staff ("runners" bring food and drink out to each table when it is ready). Other advantages of this ordering system include the ability for different customers at the same table to order at different times and request refills or order modifications without flagging down a server. Unlike most casual-dining restaurants, the interactive kiosks at uWink allow patrons to view the ingredients and nutritional information for each entree.

While waiting for their food, patrons have the option of playing specially-designed social games (aimed at engaging a group of customers at a table) or view movie trailers, music videos, horoscopes, celebrity gossip, comedy skits and the like. One group can challenge another in a video game such as "Zillionaire" (a trivia game similar to "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?") without leaving their tables. There are also multi-player games such as "Pong" that groups can play away from their tables while they are awaiting their orders.

The first uWink restaurant opened on October 16, 2006, in the Westfield Promenade in Woodland Hills, California. If the concept proves successful, uWink plans to commence franchising of the restaurant chain in 2007.

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