Latest news with #Skee-Ball
Boston Globe
26-03-2025
- Boston Globe
Providence Place is getting rid of mallrats. Make way for the tumbleweeds.
The kids also aren't allowed to be alone in the mall during school hours, but this isn't part of Governor It's a crackdown on harmless, timeless fun in the name of shoring up public safety because the mall's deadbeat former owners cut back on security at the same time that they were defaulting on their loans to private lenders. Advertisement The ban on kids is the brainchild of John Dorsey, one of the mall's court-appointed receivers, who says he wants to 'get the public's confidence back' in the mall. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up 'The theory behind it is: If nothing changes, nothing changes,' Dorsey told me over the phone this week. I think Dorsey is the It's true that the mall has had a handful of high-profile criminal incidents involving young people, including a group of teenagers who It's also true that Dorsey's primary objective is to spruce up the mall – both aesthetically and financially – just enough to find a buyer later this year, and potential suitors will probably be seeking a per-assault discount. But hanging out in the mall has been a rite of passage for teenagers for generations, the place where you're supposed to have your first big date, first kiss, or first tiny bit of freedom from nagging parents or cranky teachers. You borrow money from your parents to buy sneakers that are too expensive, hop over to Dave & Busters for a sweaty round of Skee-Ball, and then sneak into R-rated movies. Advertisement This is what kids are supposed to do. They are the target audience. 'We've had quite a bit of feedback that some visitors don't feel safe,' Dorsey said. Well, the kinds of people who complain about teenagers in the mall are the same people who say they never go into Providence at all because of the crime. You want a safer mall? Dorsey said there's a series of safety improvements coming, including a full audit of security, controlled access to the skybridge, more guards, and upgrades to the mall's camera system. All reasonable ideas that will hopefully produce the outcome Dorsey and the rest of mall leadership is seeking. But they don't generate the headlines the mall wants. What's shortsighted about banning teenagers from the mall is it's going to leave a long-lasting bad taste in their mouths. The mall is desperate for more foot traffic because most people prefer to shop online these days. Young people are the only ones left who still enjoy the social experience of the mall. Tim Howes, a business professor at Johnson & Wales University, said Providence Place seems to be taking a ' 'They're making the decision that 16-year-olds are not worth as much as older customers,' Howes said. Dorsey assured me that the mall isn't going to have a heavy hand with this policy. It would be ironic to start banning 14-year-olds the same month that they Advertisement 'It's not static, we're not stuck with this program,' he said. 'We're going to be auditing ourselves and trying to figure out if we're accomplishing our goals.' Howes said the mall's strategy could pay off, but there are potential pitfalls to watch for, like racial profiling of teenagers or driving away potential visitors who don't agree with the policy. The bigger challenge for the mall, he said, is the potential of losing another anchor tenant, like the Apple store. 'They need to find a way to rebuild the magic that was the Providence Place Mall,' Howes said. Instead, they're trading mallrats for tumbleweeds. Dan McGowan can be reached at
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Last vestiges of South Shore summer entertainment mecca demolished. What is being built
Richard Green can look out of his condo in Hull and witness the town's transformation before his eyes – and lens. Crews over the past week have worked on tearing down the remaining relics from the era of Paragon Park, the amusement park that defined summer for many, to make way for a new apartment and commercial project called Paragon Dunes. 'The future is bright still down here,' said Green, a drone photographer who has been documenting the demolition on social media from his Atlantic Hill condo, where he has lived for 17 years. 'They're not putting in a graveyard or gas station. They're (putting in) housing. People want to come to our town.' From Green's vantage point, bright orange and yellow excavators could be seen knocking down the ornately muraled walls of what was most recently known as Paragon Boardwalk and organizing the resulting debris with ease. It's here where the lines blurred between Paragon Park and competing Funland. Don't worry, the iconic Paragon Carousel and museum are staying put. Day 3 demo ~ Old Paragon Park ~ at the end of clip the stuck dump truck gets a gentle nudge from the excavator… Posted by Richard Green on Thursday, February 27, 2025 More: Paragon Park was once known as 'The Playground of New England' Last year, after much debate, the Hull planning board signed off on plans from Procopio Companies to build 132 apartments and 9,300 square feet of commercial space at 189 and 193 Nantasket Ave. This parcel was the outer area of the park's complex, which first opened in 1905. The park's characteristic rollercoaster has been gone since 1985, but the strip along Nantasket Avenue –known as Amusement Row, which included Funland – continued providing entertainment for all ages for nearly four decades since. At various times, there was a roller-skating rink, a water slide, a seasonal flea market and mini golf course, longtime Hull Historical Society member Chris Haraden wrote in a historical overview for the Hull Times. Food options ranged from ice cream shops to saltwater taffy, Joseph's Pizzeria to Joe & Nemo's hot dog stand. Fascination attracted gamblers and thrillseekers, and Funland transformed into Dream Machine following a blaze. It was Paragon Park that brought Haraden's family to Hull, he told The Patriot Ledger, with his grandfather working at the amusement park in the 1930s. And it was working at Dream Machine that led Haraden to meeting his wife of 28 years. Employees worked any number of odd jobs at Dream Machine, whether it was making change, fixing the Skee-Ball machines, giving out prizes for tickets or serving ice cream. But if you were working there, chances were your friends did, too. 'You didn't mind working,' Haraden said. 'You were getting paid to hang out with your friends.' Haraden spoke about this time with an air of bittersweet nostalgia. In the summer back then, this area was usually lively and it wasn't uncommon for businesses to be open past midnight. But he recognizes that the times and economy have changed. 'There's not that same energy level,' Haraden said. 'It's hard to say something like what used to be is still viable. If it were, people would still be doing it.' Just like Paragon Park brought in an era of Hull being an entertainment destination, perhaps the new development will help the town 'find a new vision,' he said. 'Something new will happen, and hopefully it will be something that will make the town better,' he said. Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Contact her at hmorse@ This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Paragon Boardwalk torn down to make way for apartments in Hull
Chicago Tribune
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
New bar-arcade proposed for downtown Aurora would include bocce ball, arcade games and more
A newly-proposed arcade and activity bar, which would be located in downtown Aurora in the space above Society 57, is looking to 'redefine what social entertainment is.' That's according to Erik Gilly, who proposed the concept to the Aurora City Council's Committee of the Whole last week. Unlike a typical bar, Rec Haus would include a variety of games and activities ranging from bocce ball and shuffleboard tables to pinball and arcade games, though it would still offer an 'impressive selection' of local beer on tap along with wine and signature cocktails, he said. 'We really want to inspire people to come downtown and to get them used to treating downtown Aurora as a place you can do more than just get dinner or just see a show at the Paramount,' Gilly said. 'We want to have Rec Haus be another great addition to somebody's night out.' The arcade bar is proposed for the second floor of 100 S. River St., which was originally planned to be occupied by Society 57, the coffee shop and event space on the building's first floor. However, Society 57 never expanded into the second floor, and Gilly has now signed a lease to put Rec Haus in that space if approved by the Aurora City Council. According to Gilly's presentation at Feb. 4's Committee of the Whole meeting, Rec Haus would feature seven game lanes of bocce ball, putter-pong and bags; a number of table games like shuffleboard, pool and foosball; darts; Skee-Ball and basketball; pinball and arcade games, but not the kind played for redeemable tickets. The arcade bar would also feature games that people probably haven't heard of, like Terraball, which is a blend between pool, shuffleboard and miniature golf, Gilly said. Gilly worked for 14 years in the coin-operated amusement industry, including six years at arcade-game company Bandai Namco, he said. His most recent job with a pinball manufacturer took him around the country to work with bars, bar arcades and other businesses with a similar concept to Rec Haus, and he saw those businesses working and thriving within their communities, he said. A floor plan included with Gilly's presentation showed a 32-seat central bar with circular tables built into the two corners and other separate tables scattered around. Rec Haus would also feature a self-serve tap wall, similar to Tapville in the Fox Valley Mall, Gilly said. Those renting out one of the seven game lanes could expect bartenders to bring them drinks and food, he said. Rec Haus is not looking to compete with restaurants in downtown and is instead looking to support them by getting more people on downtown streets, particularly during weeknights, in part by hosting leagues for many of its activities and events like bingo, trivia and karaoke, according to Gilly. The bar is not proposed to have a kitchen and would instead serve packaged food like pretzels and jerky. While guests could make those things a meal, they would also be encouraged to visit downtown restaurants before or after they come to Rec Haus, Gilly said. Plus, QR codes would be featured on each of the bar's tables to allow guests to order food from nearby restaurants like New China Hut and Taqueria El Tio, according to Gilly's presentation. Guests would be allowed to bring their own food or get food delivered to the bar, according to a staff report about Rec Haus included with the Feb. 4 Committee of the Whole meeting agenda. Rec Haus would be open Tuesday to Thursday from 3 p.m. to midnight, Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to midnight. Although the bar would likely be closed on Monday to start, Gilly said he'd consider opening that day too if the demand was high enough. Similar to how many breweries work, children would be welcome in Rec Haus before 9 p.m., Gilly said. After that, only those 21 or older would be allowed in. If the Aurora City Council approves at its meeting on Tuesday items related to Rec Haus, then the arcade bar would look to open June 1, according to Gilly. He said construction would likely take around 12 weeks. Two items related to Rec Haus will be on Tuesday's Aurora City Council agenda: one that adjusts the River Street Plaza Plan Description for 100 S. River St. to allow for arcade uses, and another would increase the number of downtown fridge on-site consumption liquor licenses to allow the Liquor Commission to issue a license to Rec Haus. The Committee of the Whole placed both items on the Aurora City Council's consent agenda, which is typically used for routine or non-controversial items that are all approved with one vote and without discussion instead of needing to vote on and talk about each individual item.
