Tilted Kilt taking former Jillian’s restaurant space

Tilted Kilt, a chain of Irish sports pubs known for its scantily clad, kilt-wearing waitresses, has closed on a deal to take over the first-floor space at the northeast corner of Meridian and Georgia streets. The restaurant and sports bar is taking the 7,500-square-foot space, while former tenant Jillian's continues to operate an arcade and bowling alley on the building's second and third floors. The restaurant, which will feature more than 50 TVs and 40 draft beers, is slated to open at the beginning of December, said Ryan Murphy, a principal who also owns Tilted Kilt locations in Michigan and Illinois. A "casting call" for Tilted Kilt servers is planned for October, he said. The chain's "beautiful servers" wear a uniform of "knee-high socks and short, sexy plaid kilts with matching plaid bras under white camp shirts tantalizingly tied to show off the midriff," according to the Tilted Kilt website. The chain, based in Tempe, Ariz., opened its first location in 2003 in Las Vegas. Tilted Kilt now has locations in 19 states, including in Fort Wayne and South Bend. The restaurants serve sports bar staples including burgers, wings, wraps, pizzas and pastas.