A few months ago, the 126,000-square-foot Lake Plaza shopping center in the 2600 block of Belvidere Road had eight empty storefronts. Now, all but one are leased, including a different location for People’s Choice Family Fun Center and two nationally known businesses new to Waukegan.
Concerned about the future of his 43-year-old People’s Choice, with the lease expiring in February, owner John Sarantakis learned from property owner Nassimi Realty that the large space he was leasing at the east end of Lake Plaza was going to be sold to a developer.
Scrambling, Sarantakis and Daniel Nassimi made a deal for 25,000 square feet at the east end of Lake Plaza, and within days Sarantakis and his staff moved the facility’s arcade games to the new location and reopened.
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“I feel excellent,” Sarantakis said Saturday, sitting outside the new People’s Choice. “I’m motivated and excited we were able to put it all together. We were only not operating for four days.”
People’s Choice opened its new location at the west end of Lake Plaza in June, while VASA Fitness and Slick City plan to open by the end of the year on the east end, nearly filling the shopping center and bringing a pair of new attractions to Waukegan.
At the east end of the shopping center, crews for ACRE Investment Corporation were at work renovating the 80,000-square-foot former home of People’s Choice into the 58,000-square-foot home of VASA Fitness and the 22,000-square-foot location of a Slick City Action Park.
Though he was not planning to sell the eastern 80,000 square feet of Lake Plaza, Daniel Nassimi, the owner of Nassimi Realty, said that in negotiating with ACRE, an “opportunity arose which made sense for everyone.”
“We had eight spaces available,” Nassimi said. “People’s Choice took seven of them, and we have a deal pending for the eighth.”
Dan Hanson, the director of asset management for ACRE, said his company has done previous deals with VASA and they are now working to renovate the space. With more room than VASA needed, the remaining space will become a Slick City.
Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham said Monday in an email that economic growth is about more than attracting new businesses to the city. Supporting longtime locally based enterprises is also part of the formula.
“Economic growth isn’t just about attracting new development; it is deeply rooted in retaining, supporting, and reinvesting in the legacy businesses that have anchored our community for decades,” Cunningham said.
Though smaller, Sarantakis said there is room for 150 games and the redemption center. The bumper cars will go into the space immediately to the west when the existing business moves out soon. The necessary work will be done to connect them.
“It’s a little cramped, but everyone is making it work,” he said.
Reopening the People’s Choice arcade in June, Sarantakis said he still had to find a place for the restaurant, which serves pizza and other items, the dining room, and the party room. Additional space separated from the arcade by a small storefront was also available. Sarantakis said it opened on July 3.
“The party space fits 170 people,” Sarantakis said. “It works for us. People will have to walk outside to get to the arcade to play the games.”
Sarantakis said he sees Slick City as a complementary operation which will be beneficial to both businesses. He anticipates people going to VASA will bring more customers to the shopping center, which can only be a benefit. The large parking lot will help with community events.
“VASA will attract thousands of people with their memberships,” Sarantakis said. “Slick City is a complementary attraction. It will bring people to both of us.”
Cunninghan said he was pleased to see Peoples Choice find a new location a few hundred feet away. It has been a “staple of family entertainment in Waukegan since 1984.” It is important for government and business to work together to build a stronger economy.
“When faced with relocation challenges, their decision to stay right here in Waukegan, relocating just a few doors down in Lake Plaza demonstrates the resilient, community-first spirit that defines our city,” he said.
Kevin Dugal, the chief operating officer of Slick City’s parent corporation, said the Waukegan location is the third in Illinois and the 49th in the United States. He is also excited to be the franchisee for the Waukegan operation along with his two brothers and his sister.
Dugal said there will be 13 slides where people descend on a mat. There will also be a basketball court and an area for dodgeball. All of the experiences are unique to patents obtained by Slick City.
“It’s the same feeling as going down a water slide except you don’t get wet and you don’t have to change clothes,” Dugal said. “It’s the same size as a basketball court with baskets at each end. You can jump and bounce on it. Your vertical jump is a lot higher.”
With the slides safe for people 4 and older, Dugal said there is a play area for children 5 and under.
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Conner Freiboth, VASA’s construction and development project manager, said in a text Monday that the company has 72 locations in the country spread over 10 states, including Illinois, from Arizona to Michigan.
Freiboth said VASA distinguishes itself from other gyms because of its variety of exercise opportunities, including a variety of weight machines as well as free weights and Olympic lifting.
Along with standard fitness equipment, Freiboth said there is a “cardio deck,” three studio rooms, half-court basketball, and a swimming pool. There is also a daycare component so parents can bring their children.
“We have a hot tub, a sauna, a steam room, massage chairs, and red light therapy,” he said. “Our locations also include a kids’ care area, where kids can hang out while their parents are working out in the club.”