FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP - Two new tenants will bring arcade games and pickleball to Freehold Raceway Mall.
Freehold Raceway Mall's owner, The Macerich Co., has received an OK from the township Planning Board to bring Dave & Buster's, the popular arcade, sports bar and restaurant, and Freehold Athletic Club to the mall.
They will bring an entertainment venue and an athletic and fitness club, including five pickleball courts, to the lower level of the former Sears store, which closed in February 2020.
The planning board approved the application, which required sign approvals, at its meeting on Thursday night.
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“We are thrilled with Freehold Township Planning Board’s unanimous decision,” said Frank Lucia, Freehold Raceway Mall’s general manager in a statement to What’s Going There.
“We appreciate their support and partnership as the addition of Dave & Buster's and Freehold Athletic Club will further enhance the mall’s vibrant shop, dine, and play experience for our guests and community."
Dave & Buster's will take up 40,158 square feet, more than half of the Sears space with Freehold Athletic Club encompassing 30,720 square feet next door, according to the site plans on file in town hall.
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The building's upper level is Primark and Bob’s Stores, which announced in May that it is closing. Bob's Stores, along with sister company Eastern Mountain Sports, filed for bankruptcy recently.
The planning board's approval is a win for Freehold Raceway Mall. In February 2020, the township's Planning Board denied the mall's request to lease the Sears space to Round1 Bowling & Amusement after a finding that it was not allowed in the township's regional mall zone.
The township changed the zoning rules in 2021 and broadened the possibilities for the Jersey Shore's largest shopping center. While still requiring board approvals, it opened the way for a tenant like Dave & Buster's and other uses.
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According to plans, Dave & Buster's at Freehold Raceway Mall will have a bar and restaurant. It will have a total of 137 tables and 545 seats. It also will have a full-service menu and drink offering along with a state-of-the-art arcade.
Freehold Athletic Club proposes to remodel its space and fill it with fitness machines and equipment. It also will include five pickleball courts with a lounge and pro shop, cryotherapy, massage therapy, an on-site chiropractor, personal training and physical therapy. Other amenities include a sauna, a juice bar, virtual golf bays, stretching, yoga room and space for group classes.
David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for 25 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Please sign up for his free weekly newsletter and join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.
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