Paramus, N.J. — Kingsmen Xperience, a subsidiary of Kingsmen Creatives Ltd., and Good Vibrations will open two branded location-based entertainment (LBE) attractions totaling 56,000 square feet at Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, roughly 25 miles northwest of New York City. Both attractions, Nerf Action Xperience and Planet Playskool, will open later this year and feature immersive activities, retail stores and food and beverage areas. The Nerf attraction will comprise 36,000 square feet, with Planet Playskool occupying 20,000 square feet. These openings mark the beginning of a strategic partnership between …
Entertainment
Springfield, Va. — A 32,000-square-foot LEGO Discovery Center is scheduled to open next summer at Springfield Town Center in Springfield. Designed for families with children ages 2 to 12, the Discovery Center will feature interactive activities, workshops and play. Experiences will include a digital “Space Mission,” wherein children and families can build — and then digitally scan and fly — space rockets. Offerings will also include a preschool-focused LEGO DUPLO area tailored to younger children. Of the addition of the LEGO location to Springfield Town Center, Joseph Coradino of the …
Physical Retail Focuses on Quality, Customers
Josh Williams, senior vice president and director of investments out of Cullinan Properties’ Houston office, has been closely monitoring the leasing, development and sales activity for brick and mortar since our national emergence from the pandemic began. Below are the trends he sees, and where he believes this market is headed. Retail Insight: What would you say is the overarching trend in retail real estate right now? Williams: As we emerge from the pandemic, we are seeing a wide variety of retail assets returning to pre-2020 activity levels, all with one overarching …
The city of Murrieta is a city on the grow — and for this area, the process of developing means expanding and deepening retail offerings, many of which are in the realm of experiential retail. The city is seeking to make a name for itself as it expands its offering for its residents and attracts visitors interested in family friendly fun, dining experiences and resorts that cater to relaxation. Located in Southwest Riverside County between Los Angeles and San Diego, Murrieta has a population of more than 118,000. The city …
Winter Haven, Fla. — Merlin Entertainments and Hasbro have partnered to build the world’s first standalone Peppa Pig Theme Park. Situated within LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven, the new park is expected to open in 2022. Merlin has an exclusive multi-territory licensing agreement with Hasbro, owner of the Peppa Pig brand, to build and operate the attractions, which are targeted at the preschool market. Peppa Pig Theme Park will feature multiple rides, interactive attractions, themed playscapes and water play areas with live daily shows. Ride and attraction details for the new …
CBL Properties Opens $150 Million Live Casino Pittsburgh Destination at Westmoreland Mall
Pittsburgh — CBL Properties, a Tennessee-based retail REIT, has debuted Live! Casino Pittsburgh, a $150 million entertainment destination that operates out of the company’s Westmoreland Mall in metro Pittsburgh. The Cordish Cos. of Baltimore developed the 100,000-square-foot casino and will operate it under its Live! brand, which is known for baseball-themed entertainment destinations in Atlanta; St. Louis; and Arlington, Texas. The two-level destination replaces a former Bon-Ton department store and offers an array of entertainment and fresh dining concepts, including American Kitchen + Craft Bar from celebrity chef Guy Fieri. …
Denver — Punch Bowl Social has filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Denver-based “eatertainment” concept has closed all but three of its locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The venues in Austin, Texas; Arlington, Virginia; and Atlanta remain open. In summer 2019, Cracker Barrel invested $140 million in Punch Bowl Social. According to multiple media reports, the restaurant chain chose during the pandemic to not invest any further in Punch Bowl Social, instead focusing on its own business.
Orlando, Fla. — Drive Shack Inc. will reopen its 65,000-square-foot location in Orlando on Friday, Dec. 18. The location closed earlier this spring in accordance with local COVID-19 guidelines. The venue is located at 7285 Corner Drive, 21 miles southeast of downtown Orlando. It is open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from noon to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The location will operate with restrictive and precautionary measures in place, including enhanced cleaning and sanitization protocols, capacity limitations, social distancing measures and certain restrictions on …
Waxahachie, Texas — ShowBiz Cinemas will open its new Bowling, Movies & More concept in Waxahachie on Dec. 18. The venue features 13 theater auditoriums, 14 bowling lanes, three party rooms and an arcade. The 66,000-square-foot location also sells cafe-style food and has a full bar with 20 beer taps. The Dallas-based operator opened the venue with COVID-19 protocols in place, such as all staff and patrons must wear a mask except for when eating or drinking within the auditorium, all staff members must wear gloves and receive a temperature check before …
The Colony, Texas — Electric Gamebox, a British entertainment concept centered on interactive gaming, will open a 4,000-square-foot venue at Grandscape, the 433-acre mixed-use destination in the northern Dallas suburb of The Colony. The venue, which is expected to open this month, will be Electric Gamebox’s first in the United States. Nebraska Furniture Mart is leading the development of the retail components of Grandscape.