PEABODY — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday afternoon to commemorate the opening of Gametime Lanes and Entertainment, an entertainment hub featuring axe throwing, bowling, arcades, and more at the Northshore Mall.
Co-owners Steve Belmonte, Fursey Keleghan, Tony Sorrentino, Jeff Lajoie, and Anthony DeCotis and their families gathered at the slick outside façade situated next to Arhaus and L.L. Bean to snip the ribbon with President of the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce Deanne Healey.
Also in attendance were City Council Members Julie Daigle, Dave Gamache, Ann Manning-Martin, and Mayor Ted Bettencourt, who spoke briefly following the presentation of a certificate to the owners from Healey and the PACC.
“I always say this is the fun part of my job, going to events like this, welcoming a new business to the city,” Bettencourt said. “The facility is absolutely beautiful; the workmanship was incredible. Welcome to the City of Peabody.”
This is the second Gametime location, with the first opening its doors six years ago in Amesbury. Belmonte initially approached the Northshore Mall manager, who he knew from his hockey playing days, to open a small arcade in the mall.
“And he says, ‘Well, I know you have the spot in Amesbury. We’re looking for an amusement anchor. Would you be interested in putting in a full-blown family entertainment center?’” Belmonte said.
After agreeing to venture into opening another bowling entertainment center and moving into the space previously occupied by Bally Total Fitness, it took around two years for the lease to be acquired as the owners ran into structural problems. In total, the initiative cost the partners $9 million.
“Originally, we were supposed to be up on the top floor, but now we’re in the basement for the bowling lanes,” said Belmonte. “So it took about 13 months to get it from conception to Nov. 11 and opening day.”
The same design management team that won the Amesbury location an award for “Best Renovated Bowling Alley in the Country” was brought in for help with the Peabody venue, giving it a sleek, modern look.
Within the 32,000 square feet of space at Gametime, visitors can enjoy the 75 arcade pieces ranging from virtual reality games to claw machines filled with baseball cards, 12 ten-pin bowling lanes, shuffleboard, retro pinball machines, two bars, a restaurant, and axe throwing.
Along with fun weekly events already scheduled for the Peabody Gametime, Belmonte also noted the philanthropic opportunities Gametime could offer the city, as they plan to open their space for fundraising events throughout the year.
“The mall is really becoming a real entertainment destination, and so that helps attract people from outside of the community as well,” Healey said. “They really want to get involved in the community, not just the community in here; they want to be involved outside of the core walls of this building.”
