Bowling
First Rockford Group Celebrates Construction Start of New Entertainment Complex
Rockford, Ill., July 22, 2008 – A super-sized entertainment facility is making its home in Rockford. Brunswick Zone XL, a family-oriented bowling and recreation center, will join the Kerasotes ShowPlace 16 just east of Interstate 90 along E. State Street. Today, Brunswick representatives joined developer First Rockford Group, Inc. and City of Rockford and Winnebago County officials, in making the announcement public with a ceremonial groundbreaking.
The facility, expected to open in mid-April 2009, will house two bowling areas, billiards, a lounge, event and meeting rooms, arcade and a laser tag arena. The facility will cater to families, corporate events, birthday parties and bowling leagues.
First Rockford Group founder and President Sunil Puri, has long envisioned a recreational destination on the city’s east side. First Rockford Group purchased 50 acres of land from Kerasotes in 2005, a decade after the 16-screen theater opened. With the arrival of another major player, Block 83 – as the 22-acre commercial district has been dubbed – has the potential to draw a multitude of other commercial concepts.
“Brunswick Zone XL is a huge win for Rockford,” Puri said. “As we attempt to build a first-class, cohesive concept that includes retail, dining, recreation and hospitality, the presence of such a well-known brand will greatly assist us in this goal.”
Puri said Block 83’s family-friendly atmosphere and entertainment offerings will service the area between Chicago and Madison. Brunswick officials anticipate that the complex will draw from a radius of approximately 30-minutes of drive time – an area population of about 700,000. Its proximity to Interstate 90 and many of Rockford’s hotels will make it accessible and convenient to out-of-town guests as well as area residents.
Together, the Brunswick Zone XL facility and the Kerasotes ShowPlace 16 account for about $75 million in investment in the area, according to Puri. First Rockford Group is planning its own $4 million project – a 15,000-square-foot, multi-tenant retail building in front of the theater. Currently in talks with various retailers, the groundbreaking on the outlot building will be timed to coincide with the opening of Brunswick Zone XL.
Brunswick Zone XL will locate on about four-and-a-half acres, leaving plenty of room for other attractions that First Rockford Group and Rockford city officials hope will entice locals and visitors.
“We are excited to have Brunswick Zone XL, a family-friendly entertainment destination, locate in the City of Rockford,” said City of Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey. “With 36 lanes of bowling, billiards, laser tag, video games and much more, we look forward to offering additional entertainment amenities to members of our community as well as to visitors to the Rockford area.”
“It’s exciting to add Brunswick Zone to our Rockford business district,” said First Ward Alderman Joe Sosnowski. “This will help in our community’s efforts to make this corridor of Rockford a “stay-and-play” district where hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, entertainment complexes, and recreation come together for family fun. This project will also be the impetus for exciting future projects, and Rockford is open for business.”
“We are thrilled to bring one of our premier bowling and entertainment centers to the Rockford community,” said Enrique Boneta, director of operations for Brunswick Bowling & Billiards. “Our Brunswick Zone XL centers are changing the face of bowling and entertainment, and we feel this center will be ideal for Rockford, given the overall demographics, the number of families with kids, the demand for bowling and entertainment venues, and the forecasted growth in the area.”
Simultaneous to the construction of the Brunswick Zone XL, First Rockford Group will be investing in aesthetic design elements to distinguish the entertainment district and in extending roadways within the development. Puri said the existing infrastructure – including two traffic lights and a widened E. State St. – will serve the development well.
About Brunswick Bowling & Billiards
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation has been a leader in the recreation business for more than 160 years. Founded in 1845 to make billiards tables, Brunswick Corporation is a Fortune 500 company and the leader in bringing Genuine Ingenuity™ to everything it makes. Brunswick Bowling & Billiards, one of the largest operators of full-service bowling and family recreation centers in North America, is a full-line supplier of bowling equipment, supplies and consumer products, and designs billiards tables and accessories. For more information, visit our Web site at www.brunswickbowling.com.
First Rockford Group is a privately-held real estate company that develops, builds and manages retail, office and industrial property in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Missouri. The company, headquartered in Rockford, employs 35 people. First Rockford Group, Inc. was founded in 1984.
