BACK OF THE YARDS — Starting this month, South Siders will finally have a party destination for their kids without having to travel to the suburbs or up north, with the Razzmatazz Family Fun Center opening at Pershing Road and Ashland Avenue.
"There's really nothing like a family entertainment center anywhere on the South Side or in Chicago," said Mike Widell, owner of the Razzmatazz, which will be connected to Chicago Indoor Sports, 3900 S. Ashland Ave., which he also owns.
Chicago Indoor Sports, a multi-purpose sports facility, has long been the destination for special events, conventions, trade shows and birthday parties for area residents. The facility also specializes in competitive sports such as indoor soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, flag football and basketball.
"People are tired of going to Orland Park for their parties," Widell said. "When [my kids] were young there weren't very many places to have birthday parties for kids."
While there are other game centers on the North Side, they don't come complete with the selection of children's games, indoor soccer fields and basketball courts, party rooms, a full bar and restaurant that will be available, he said.
The 25,000-square-foot center will feature Route 66 bowling, more than 70 arcade games including a Candy Crush machine, a laser maze, five giant inflatables and trampoline basketball. The laser maze, which forces you to run as fast as you can without being hit by a giant laser, has the people most excited, he said.
While the average birthday party at Chicago Indoor Sports Facility would be about 20 kids, Razzmatazz will only require 15 kids minimum for a party and can handle parties of all sizes. There also will be 350 spaces in the expanded parking lot, he said.
The center plans to have a soft opening at the end of this week. A special grand opening is planned for June 20 for special guests from the community, family and media, Widell said.
The center is celebrating the grand opening with free giveaways. One lucky winner will win a free birthday party worth $700 and everyone who signs up wins a free game card worth up to $25, according to their website.
"We'll see the excitement of the community [at the grand opening]. We're hearing positive expectations from the community," said Widell, adding that Razzmatazz was a $3.5 million dollar investment in the community, which, added to the initial cost of Chicago Indoor Sports, brings the project's total to $10 million.
"We're expecting great things from it," Widell said.
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