Less than a week after Bayshore announced plans to reopen a new movie theater and bowling operator through iPic Entertainment, the Glendale Mall announces it will also add a children’s entertainment venue to its tenant list.
West Hollywood-based Kids Empire will open its first Wisconsin location next summer at the north end of the property, across from The Cheesecake Factory. The 11,125-square-foot area was leased in the past through a LensCrafters store.
Kids Empire is an indoor entertainment center for young people that features mazes, slides, rides, art construction toys, rock climbing, jumping and ball pools. In addition to a giant multi-level playground, the site will feature a smaller playground for infants and toddlers. The sites are “screen-free environments” with activities for young people of all ages. All youth must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, according to a news release.
Kids Empire has 39 recently opened locations and 4 will open soon in 10 states. The company will expand into other Wisconsin markets, said Jay Blom, a retail broker with Milwaukee-based Founders 3 Real Estate Services, who represented Kids Empire in the lease. .
“We are thrilled to bring Kids Empire to Bayshore and offer fun interactive activities for families while creating new memories,” said Mary Mokwa, Bayshore Senior General Manager.
Bayshore owner Cypress Equities, represented through Mid-America Real Estate. ID Studio 4, founded in Irving, Texas, will direct the architectural and design paintings for the space.
Kids Empire offers birthday reservations, with features for prepackaged foods, bottled drinks, and other gifts.
The new entertainment center will be just down the street from the 42,951-square-foot ACX Cinemas, a bowling alley and restaurant, which is also expected to open next summer. Former tenant iPic closed its Bayshore movie theater and bowling alley for 4 years ago, and the area has remained empty ever since.
The two entertainment concepts are the most recent additions to the newly remodeled Bayshore. In recent years, owner Cypress Equities has invested millions of dollars in reducing the mall’s retail and demolishing or converting existing buildings for other purposes. Bayshore has attracted a wave of new tenants, such as Nike, Total Wine