SAUGUS — Square One Mall’s latest addition, a claw machine arcade and family entertainment center dubbed “Gatcha,” is set to open this summer after the company won approval from the Board of Selectmen.
The company already owns a “Space Zero” location at the South Shore Plaza in Braintree, which features claw machines, a trampoline park, and a kid’s playground, as well as a similar “clawcade” facility in Orlando, Fla. The Saugus location is set to open in the former site of Express, across from the mall’s food court on the second level.
Owner Jason Lian explained that the Saugus facility will feature 20 claw machines, though not all will be the standard claw machine experience familiar to those who have visited an arcade. Each machine is “heavily modified” providing a variety of different experiences for those seeking to take home a prize, he said.
“There’s about 50 different variations that we can implement,” he said, explaining that the Saugus facility will feature single claw machines, double claw machines, large claw machines, and a scissor machine.
Gatcha will also feature a kid’s playground, obstacle courses, and slides, with space set aside for party rooms.
Lian said Saugus was identified as a potential location for the new facility in part because of the sheer amount of space it will take up. Square One Mall’s location along Route 1, about half an hour north of Boston, proved to be a good opportunity, he said. Square One is owned by Simon Properties, which also owns the South Shore Plaza.
“It’s hard to find somewhere with the ceiling height, size, parking, ease of access for all our patrons. Saugus … it’s close to Boston where people can come up, come over,” he said in an interview.
With their S-2 permit receiving unanimous approval from the Board of Selectmen Tuesday, Lian said the company is on track to open its doors to the public in June or July of this year. The biggest challenge remaining is the assembly of the machines, with the location already completely designed.
“Just putting it together takes about a month and a half,” he said, noting that construction in the space is ongoing.
Gatcha’s hours will mirror those of the mall itself, and Lian said the company remains undecided on how exactly customers will pay to use the machines — with play cards in use at other locations, but they have a fondness for putting quarters or tokes into the machine.
Selectmen Michael Serino said the board is in favor of doing anything it can to help boost Square One Mall, including approving Gatcha’s request for a special permit.
