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Uptown Alley, an entertainment complex slated to open next year at the former Yankee Candle Village site, got a huge boost Thursday when the Williamsburg City Council approved revenue-sharing incentives for the project.
The council unanimously approved incentives earlier backed by the city’s Economic Development Authority, offering up to $600,000 for the center at 2200 Richmond Road.
“Uptown Alley is grateful for the support of Williamsburg in the face of current economic challenges, as they have been instrumental in helping us move forward with this project. We are excited to see how our partnership continues to grow,” owner Steve Wenmore said in a statement.
Mayor Doug Pons said approving the grant was not a difficult decision.
“There was a (vacant) Yankee Candle building, and we wanted to find a free attraction that would fill that big space,” he said.
Uptown Alley will purchase the 65,000-square-foot building and 6.5 acres of land.
“We got people to come to Williamsburg to buy the building and have it self-storage. It’s not what we wanted on Richmond Road, where the largest commercial asset in the city is located,” Pons said.
He added that the city is “continuously researching trends to determine what’s missing from the Williamsburg market. Uptown Alley addresses the need for more indoor entertainment options in the area.” He also highlighted that the owners have invested more than $12 million in the project .
Under the Shared Incentive proposal, the reward — ultimately a rebate from taxes generated during the first five years of operation — would not involve a withdrawal from the city’s funds.
A portion of the tax revenue Uptown Alley generates and pays to the city will be returned as a rebate to the owners, who plan to use up to $600,000 to modernize the exterior.
Often, the owner/developer can use such grants as a type of collateral when seeking a loan.
The name Uptown Alley focuses on premium bowling and duck bowling, “but bowling is only a small part of what they do,” Pons said. “They will have restaurants, live music and various other entertainment features.”
Uptown Alley is located in Richmond and has two locations in Manassas, plus one more. Surprise, Arizona and Changzhou, China. Recreational opportunities at these venues include billiards, laser tag arcades and a variety of video games.
In Williamsburg, a large sports theater with HDTV and a large projection screen is planned. Additionally, the plan submitted to the city called for a miniature golf course on the second floor.
Yankee Candle’s former home opened in November 2005 and has become one of the city’s tourist attractions.this business Sudden closure in April 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wilford Kale, kalehouse@aol.com
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