Sports and entertainment retailers are grabbing sites in markets across the country. Retail landlords are drawn to these brands as they typically can bring in all-day traffic and usually take up larger spots. Pickleball venues continue to be hot, along with trampoline parks, bowling alleys/arcades, golf simulators and even immersive game show venues.
Round1 Bowling & Arcade will be joining Valencia Town Center as an entertainment anchor, marking a significant milestone in the first phase of the property’s multi-phase redevelopment and reimagining. Valencia Town Center is a two-level regional retail destination in Valencia, Calif., featuring more than 140 retailers and restaurants, as well as an outdoor district. The new Round1 Bowling & Arcade will occupy approximately 125,000 s.f. at the southeast end of the shopping center and is currently anticipated to open in early 2027. Round1 offers a mix of entertainment experiences, including bowling, arcade games, more than 250 crane machines, professional-grade billiards and karaoke, as well as a variety of food and beverage offerings. The new location will introduce Spo-cha, short for “Sports Challenge,” Round1’s all-you-can-play sports and amusement area featuring various activities such as batting cages, trampolines and roller skating.
Pickleball concept The Picklr, recently join The Collection at Forsyth a 565,000-s.f. open-air mixed-use lifestyle center in Cumming, Ga., a northern suburb of Atlanta. A Build-A-Bear Workshop also opened late last year at the property and children’s interactive play concept Giggle Town signed a 7,118-s.f. lease to open its own space at the center. JLL led leasing negotiations on behalf of the landlord, CTO Realty Growth Inc. Situated at the intersection of Ga. Highway 400 and Peachtree Parkway, The Collection at Forsyth features a variety of national and local retailers, restaurants and a movie theater.
PickleBOS opened a 22,570-s.f. sports entertainment venue in Charlestown, Mass., a northern metro of Boston. The site is located within Charlestown Labs, a 166,000-s.f. office and life sciences campus owned by Related Beal. Designed by StudioTYAK, the indoor facility features 10 pickleball courts that are equipped with TVs, iPads and cameras for live scoring and instant replays, as well as private event spaces.
City Pickle USA opened a 35,000-s.f. athletic facility in North Fort Worth. The site spans 3.3 acres and the facility features 16 courts, a gym, a full-service bar, a pro shop and dedicated wellness spaces, including a sauna, cold plunge and a red-light therapy room.
Family entertainment tenant Sky Zone signed a 40,103-s.f. retail lease at Gurnee Mills Mall in the northern Chicago suburb of Gurnee, Ill. CBRE represented the landlord, Simon Property Group. Gurnee Mills Mall is home to more than 200 retail, dining and entertainment tenats.
CrossMarc Services signed a lease with Sky Zone to anchor Waterbridge Downs, a 124,997-s.f. shopping center located in Orlando, Fla. The 42,000-s.f. active indoor entertainment park is slated to open this spring and will backfill the space formerly occupied by Big Lots. Sky Zone South Orlando will feature expanded launch slides, an enlarged toddler zone and dedicated space for after-school programs. The new Sky Zone South Orlando will join a mix of tenants at Waterbridge Downs that includes Family Dollar, The UPS Store, Aji Express Ceviche Bar and El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant.
Entertainment concept Vellix Adventure Park opened a 20,000-s.f. trampoline park in Hurst, Texas, located northeast of Fort Worth. The space is within Mayfair Village shopping center and includes a ropes course and virtual reality games. JLL represented Vellix Adventure in the lease negotiations. Phillips Edison & Co. represented the landlord on an internal basis.
PopStroke Entertainment Group, a golf-centric entertainment concept, opened a new venue in Austin last fall. PopStroke assumed operations of The Pitch, a sports-themed entertainment hub on the city’s northeast side that was designed by Mark Odom Studio and developed by Karlin Real Estate. PopStroke offers dining and upgraded event spaces, and the company will also operate The Pitch’s pickleball courts and sand volleyball courts.
The Back Nine Golf simulator opened a 2,127-s.f. spot at Crosswinds Mall in West Bloomfield, Mich. Gerdom Realty & Investment represented the tenant, which is opening its ninth location in Michigan. Signature Associates represented the undisclosed landlord.
The Meridian Group recently snagged Game Show Battle Rooms to join the tenant lineup at The Boro, a transit-oriented, mixed-use development in the Northern Virginia city of Tysons. This interactive venue features live-hosted game shows, team-based battles and custom arenas for corporate events and parties. Other recent new tenants at The Boro include TileBar, Fava Pot, California Closets and NOVA Plastic Surgery & Dermatology. H&R Retail handles the retail leasing assignment at The Boro.
