10-04-2025
Kelly Drive project will include bowling alley, hotel
A new development just off U.S 421 in Sanford will feature a hotel and an entertainment center that will include a bowling alley, according to the developer.
The 'Kelly Drive Project' has attracted a national consultant to Sanford for a $10 million family entertainment center, retail shops and a walkable housing development.
Developer George Avent said JWH Consulting is to design and develop a 35,000-square-foot entertainment center with 16 bowling lanes and other attractions at the U.S 421 bypass and Kelly Drive, exit 145, east of Sanford.
Avent, a Sanford businessman and president of AVENT DSI, Inc., is developing the project, which is slated to be approximately 150,000 square feet of retail shops, restaurants, pods, junior anchors and anchors broken down into five buildings that will be leased to a group of tenants who are food and beverage retailers.
According to Avent, the primary attraction is a family entertainment center, an amusement park housed in a 35,000-square foot building with 16 bowling lanes, 40 redemption arcade games, laser tag, bumper cars, miniature golf, axe throwing and a pro-shop along with a casual dining operation.
John Holden, president of JWH Consulting of Heath Springs, S.C., who is one of the nation's renowned family entertainment center designers, according to Avent, is the project consultant.
Avent said Holden has visited Sanford on multiple occasions and has the feasibility study from the Brunswick Bowling Co.
'The facility is being prepared to open simultaneously with and exchange customers with Sanford's new mega sports complex 5 minutes away at the intersection of Highway 421 bypass and exit 146,' Avent said.
Century 21 Triangle Group is handling the leasing and predicts the project's attractions will also include a Marriott Fairfield Hotel, a fuel station with a convenience store, a Tim Hortons breakfast location and one additional food and beverage retailer.
Avent quoted the McAdams firm, designers of the mega sports complex, 'to compete for the hosting of regional and national tournaments, a minimum of 2,000 hotel rooms are required to be available.' At present Sanford, has less than 800 hotel rooms.
Avent currently has negotiation rights to one additional Kelly Drive property and is planning a walkable housing development, which will include around 100 townhomes in the Kelly Drive residential project. Avent considers this a step closer to his objective of having a total of approximately 150 houses, of which 20% will be affordable homes, within walking distance of his commercial project.
The retail portion of the development will kick off once a solid base of residents has moved to Kelly Drive.
Avent added that the 'concept of a walkable housing development with an grocery/pharmacy anchor tenant and ... family entertainment and additional food and beverage retailers all within walking distance is evidence of a growing 'live, eat and play' trend that can be duplicated in multiple locations.'
Avent added that he chose a family entertainment center over a Topgolf because of the bowling lanes.
