AT: John W.C. Robinson
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The family entertainment center (FEC) marketplace is one of the fastest growing in the amusement industry. That very growth is what’s paved the way for the Scene75 entertainment center brand, which started with a single location in 2012 in Dayton, Ohio, to now open its fifth location just seven years later. Scene75 in Columbus, Ohio, opened in October after much anticipation.
Originally expanding from Dayton into the Cincinnati, Cleveland and Pittsburgh markets, the Columbus expansion of Scene75 marks the chain’s largest center to date. Occupying a former Macy’s anchor store in the Tuttle Mall, the two-floor complex is more than 225,000 square feet of entertainment options and family fun.
“We brand ourselves as operating the largest indoor entertainment centers in the country, so size is part of our strategy,” said Jonah Sandler, who founded Scene75 with his father, Les Sandler. “But this is a large undertaking at the same time; [the former Macy’s was an] unbelievable shell of a building for our uses.”
Within the massive space, Scene75 has raised the bar of what an FEC can offer in variety. Outfitted with a cashless card system from Embed, being a home to more than 200 video games is only the beginning for the venue.
“We can have so many different components in our building that are taken from our years of learning,” stated Sandler.
The facility boasts an indoor go-kart track (supplied by Amusement Products) directly across from an indoor Visa spinning coaster dubbed Nuclear Rush.
“The spinning coaster was a natural fit for Scene75,” said Len Soled, whose company Rides 4 U brokered the purchase of the attraction. “It’s a family ride. Thrilling for the kids, great fun for the older guests and something they can experience together.”
Keeping that universal appeal in mind was key in the theming of the coaster as well.
“With Nuclear Rush, my intention was to create a theme, name and color palette that would fight the idea that this was a ‘kiddie coaster,’” said Maggie McCartney, Scene75’s director of art and design. ‘It is an atomic, radioactive theme that is the right amount of bright, attention-grabbing colors but nothing too juvenile that would make a young couple coming in on a date feel silly for riding it.”
Nearby is a two-story Laser Tag arena. With equipment from Laserforce, the arena presents a fun configuration of theming and interactivity. There’s also an emphasis on safety, as the gun vests themselves remind players that two hands must be kept on the gun at all times, sensing whenever a hand is removed.
“This is our best go-kart track, our best laser tag arena, our best party room configuration,” said Sandler. “In all ways, this the best of what we do.”
Also taking advantage of the two floors of entertainment is a Moser Rides Spring Ride 12 tower attraction. With a loading station on the bottom floor, riders rise through a balcony on the upper level to the roof of the venue, then bounce down between the floors several times. The unique location helps assure guests visit both levels of the grand facility.
Other attractions include The Spin Zone Bumper Cars (Amusement Products), an XD Dark Ride from Triotech, a 4D theater by CJ, and a Bounce Inflatapark. The variety of offerings at Scene75 help lure what operators are projecting will be more than 400,000 visitors in its first year at the new location.
The new location boasts nine private party rooms, all completely separate from one another.
“We can also seat over 500 guests in The Grand Scene banquet hall area,” added Les Sandler.
Hungry guests can dine in the unique Illusions Restaurant and Bar. Themed to legendary magicians and escape artists of old, the eatery is more than traditional food and dining. The atmosphere changes instantly as guests enter the restaurant, with unique lighting and an animatronic of an escape artist appearing overhead. In addition, the location hosts a hidden party room, accessed by a secret sliding bookcase entryway.
Next door, the immersive theming continues with the Fire and Ice Bar. Serving guests both in the entertainment area of the FEC as well as in its own uniquely lit area, the refreshing escape is one of four different bars offered within Scene75’s walls.
The elaborate theming is extended beyond the dining options. Blacklight Mini Golf offers two nine-hole courses that not only have abundant glow-in-the-dark painted figures and structures but go an extra step in steeping players into their surroundings. Realistic animations — created in-house by the team at Scene75 — from under the sea and jungle life are projected onto the surrounding walls, creating the illusion that families are putting next to a man-eating shark or snapping Venus flytraps.
“Les and Jonah Sandler’s innovative ‘think big’ approach to this industry is on display at all of their locations and in everything that they do,” said Earl Heller of Rides 4 U. “They pour their heart and soul into what they do, employing a hands-on approach to make certain that each and every detail is done right.”
That innovative style led to the Columbus location being Scene75’s first installation of the HomeRun Zone. Featuring simulators from HRZone in partnership with Real Yagu Zone, the HomeRun Zone turns traditional batting cages into an interactive, augmented reality experience. Competing guests pitch to one another, via a pitching machine, and watch as a Major League pitcher deals out to their friends and family standing at the plate to swing away. Gameplay is not only interactive for the participants, but the grand nature of the action helps draw a crowd of onlookers from those nearby and those waiting to play.
The expansive Scene75 Columbus isn’t complete yet. Exclusively designed escape rooms, one-of-a-kind Archery Tag, and the multipurpose sports field area dubbed The Fieldhouse are all poised to debut in the coming months.
With its rapid growth, the FEC market has become competitive with several brands making a name for themselves. Main Event, Malibu Jack’s, Topgolf, Pins Mechanical, and others have all blossomed into new markets in recent years.
“Frankly, [competition] makes us all try harder,” said Jonah Sandler. “Our intent is to continue to grow the brand.”
While opening the new Columbus location, the Scene75 staff remains hard at work repairing the original Dayton location, which is temporarily closed after being damaged by tornadoes this past summer. Scene75 Dayton is expected to reopen in early 2020 with new attractions and a renovated facility.
This article appears in the NOVEMBER II 2019 issue of Amusement Today.
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