GameTime, the popular family entertainment center located in The Shops at Sunset Place, is currently undergoing an extensive $1 million renovation ahead of a mid-March 2015 grand reopening. Although the location will remain open throughout the remodeling, customers will witness several exciting upgrades taking place.
“GameTime at Sunset Place has historically done very well, but business has slowly declined as it has become less exciting and not as new,” says CEO Michael Abecassis. “Really, the entire center will be new to any guest who hasn’t been there for a while and should have a great impact once completed.”
To improve overall customer convenience, the amusement center’s entire IT infrastructure has undergone a comprehensive overhaul.
Their systems will be more stable, quicker and they will have numerous self-serving kiosks for guests to recharge their cards without having to wait for service at the host stand.
Most of the changes will affect the center’s restaurant and bar areas. Draft beer, a full liquor selection and various other amenities will be introduced to the upstairs bar and pool room, effectively transforming the area in a modestly sized pub catering to a more adult crowd. The downstairs bar and restaurant are also experiencing a complete overhaul that will include new one-sided stretch booths that allow for seating larger parties, glass sound-reducing partitions to facilitate better game viewing, outdoor seating, refurbished restrooms and a few select changes to the menu that will reflect customer feedback.
“We’re not going to be complicating anything,” he says. “If someone liked our club sandwich because it was exactly what they wanted, we’re not going to add something to it that makes it undesirable. But anything that was a lower sales item is being removed and we’re adding new items that have already been tested, have had great results and will be ready for the grand opening with the new menu.”
With locations in Miami, Tampa, Sebring, Panama City, Vero Beach, Mary Esther and another coming soon to Ft. Myers, the Florida-based company has big plans for expansion in the next few years. Abecassis, who also serves as CEO of the amusement vending company General Vending, intends on opening as many as five mall arcade locations per year and up to two Family Entertainment Centers annually as well. This, he claims, is just the beginning.
“Customers who haven’t been to GameTime in a while or stopped coming altogether did so for one of two reasons — they stopped enjoying it because it became the same old thing every time or they had a bad experience,” he says. “I can tell you that both of those issues have been addressed and corrected. We once again have the latest and greatest games in the world, the food is fabulous and the experience is unlike any other. We’re looking forward to gaining and regaining longtime fans of our center by proving this great and memorable experience the next time you come in.”
For more information, call 305-667-4263 or visit www.GameTimePlayers.com.
