Freehold Raceway Mall receives Dave & Busters Freehold Athletic Club
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FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Two new tenants bring arcade games and pickleball to Freehold Raceway Mall.
Freehold Raceway Mall owner The Macerich Co. has received approval from the township’s Planning Board to incorporate Dave & Buster’s, the popular arcade, sports bar and restaurant, and the Freehold Athletic Club into the mall.
They will bring an entertainment venue and a sports and fitness club, including five pickleball courts, to the lower floor of the former Sears store, which closed in February 2020.
The planning committee approved the application, which required approval of the signage, at its meeting on Thursday evening.
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“We are thrilled with the unanimous decision of the Freehold Township Planning Board,” said Frank Lucia, general manager of Freehold Raceway Mall, 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 shopping, dining and gaming experience for our guests and the community.”
Dave & Buster’s will occupy 40,000 square feet, more than half the size of Sears, while the Freehold Athletic Club next door will occupy 30,000 square feet, according to site plans on file at City Hall.
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The upper floor of the building houses Primark and Bob’s Stores, which announced their closure in May. Bob’s Stores, along with its sister company Eastern Mountain Sports, recently filed for bankruptcy.
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 determining it was not permitted in the township’s regional mall zone.
The township changed zoning regulations in 2021, expanding the possibilities for the Jersey Shore’s largest shopping center. While board approvals were still required, it cleared the way for a tenant like Dave & Buster’s and other uses.
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According to plans, Dave & Buster’s will have a bar and restaurant at Freehold Raceway Mall. It will have a total of 137 tables and 545 seats. There will also be a full menu and beverage offerings, as well as a state-of-the-art arcade.
Freehold Athletic Club proposes to remodel its space and add fitness machines and equipment. It will also 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, juice bar, virtual golf courses, stretching, a yoga room and space for group classes.
David P. Willis, an award-winning business journalist, has covered business, retail, real estate and consumer news for 25 years with the Asbury Park Press. He writes APP.com’s “What’s Going There” column and can be reached at [email protected]. Please subscribe to his free weekly newsletter and visit his “What’s Going There” page on Facebook for updates..
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