Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/231459
r e T a i l i n g T o d a y between 7 and 18, Sky Zone also offers special activities for toddlers and fitness classes for adults. Ultimate Dodge Ball is among the most popular activities, drawing in even 30-something participants, he says. "There are plenty of places that can put a bunch of trampolines in a building and call themselves a trampoline park; Sky Zone doesn't stop there," said Chad Tinney, a partner at Sky High Ventures, a Colorado Springs, Colo., Sky Zone franchisee. Tinney is in the process of opening his first of three Sky Zone parks, in a former big-box store in Colorado Springs that he aims to open by June. The spaces tend to measure about 30,000 square feet. Sky High Ventures is also planning parks in Springfield, Mo., and in Arkansas. Two of the Canada parks are in Toronto, one is in Ottawa and the fourth is in Winnipeg, and the company wants to develop further in Canada this year. The company's franchise partner in Mexico, meanwhile, is planning to open about 50 parks, starting with the very first this month. The partner for Australia and New Zealand is out to open a total of 15 across those two countries, with the first set for Sydney, in March. "We are finding some good opportunities, but there is no question that real estate is far and away our biggest challenge and one of the biggest barriers to entry for the business," said Jeff Platt. The challenge is finding a space that is affordable while also bringing the right structural requirements, the right zoning and a landlord receptive to the concept, he says. Initially, Sky Zone targeted low-cost space inside warehouse or industrial buildings. "The old strategy of finding cheap rent works, but we are finding that the traffic will increase with better real estate," Jeff Platt said. The company's current real estate strategy is shifting to retail locations, so that the ideal spaces are empty big-box stores with ceiling heights at least 18 feet high, and with very wide spaces between columns. Sky Zone is seeking real estate in about 45 markets. CBRE is representing the company for its U.S. site selection. "Any retailer, no matter how good of a concept, needs good solid real estate," said Jeff Platt, "and I don't think we're any different." SCT For real estate, contact Tom DuBois, at (312) 649-6732, or tdubois@skyzone.com. SCT in your pocket Download it now from your app store! w w w. i c s c . o r g /s c t m o b i l e/i n d e x . h t m l J an uar y 201 4 / SC T 23