As published in Toledo Business Journal - July 1, 2019
Launch – a year-round family entertainment and action park co-founded by three-time Super Bowl champion and NFL Hall of Famer Ty Law – is headed to Toledo.
The new $2.5 million, 23,000 square foot facility is expected to open this fall in the Westgate Towne Center at 3234 Secor Road. It will be the first of as many as 10 parks Launch hopes to open across various parts of Ohio – including Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati – over the next several years.
“Launch is the ideal place for kids and adults alike to let loose and ‘fly’ while also providing a great environment for families to spend time together,” said Nader Jadallah, who will own and operate the new park with his wife, Mahera. “Even if they’ve been to other action parks before, I think the local community will be really impressed with Launch’s setup. There’s a focus on family entertainment, fitness, and safety. We make it a really fun, cool atmosphere for everybody.”
The parents of three kids – ages 8, 11, and 14 – Nader, a pharmacy IT specialist and Mahera, a former social worker, wanted to invest in something that would keep kids active and entertained, while encouraging confidence, self-esteem, and social skills. They found what they were looking for in Launch.
“While ice rinks and bowling alleys have always been a staple for families to get together, there is always a growing demand for new forms of family entertainment. Launch answers that demand by offering a fresh option for safe and fun family entertainment in the Toledo area,” said the Jadallahs.
The Jadallahs noted that the park’s design has been approved and the architect, DAZ Architectural Design, Inc. out of Michigan, is in the process of creating the blueprints. Construction is expected to start later this summer and ideally, is expected to open in the fourth quarter before the holiday season.
According to Launch, mixing sports and entertainment, the park provides children and adults of all ages with endless fun. The family entertainment and action parks include wall-to-wall, inter-connected trampolines with angled trampoline walls, as well as signature trampoline courts dedicated to dodgeball and slam-dunk basketball.
But trampolines aren’t the only feature Nader and Mahera are excited about bringing to the area.
The new park in Toledo will also feature a ninja style obstacle course, laser tag arena, rock climbing wall, and full redemption video games scattered throughout the facility. Krave, an in-house restaurant concept, will allow guests to make their own pizza creations fresh to order, as well as ice cream sundaes, offering an interactive and delicious dining option.
Launch’s primary target market is families with children ages 4-14, but it doesn’t stop there. Launch also targets high school and college students, as well as other adults. The parks also served as a social gathering place for birthday parties, date night, family events, corporate events, fundraisers, or just friendly get-togethers in a safe and enjoyable environment.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for Launch, as we continue to expand our footprint across the country,” said Launch co-founder and CEO Rob Arnold. “Our parks are not just a business, but a space where families come together to create lasting memories. We’re thrilled to have partnered with Nader and Mahera, and can’t wait for them to start creating those lasting memories in the Toledo area.”
Arnold noted that three items fuel the company’s growth and success: relevance of its concept with its core customer, integration in the communities where its parks are located, and profitability.
“With our commitment to innovation, our parks are constantly evolving, as are the expectations of our customers. We know the parents of our customers must have a great experience as well, so we create an above expectation experience for the parents as well, and encourage family fun,” said Arnold. “While this is a business, a fundamental success factor is embedding our team and aligning our activities with the social values of the local communities in which we operate.”
According to the Jadallahs, the Launch park will employ 50-75 mostly part-time employees.
The local expansion plans come at a time when Launch continues to rapidly expand its national footprint. There are currently 28 locations open and operating in 13 states, with an active growth pipeline of 30-plus action parks in development in California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas, and Virginia.
“We hope and expect to bring an exciting, innovative, and relevant family entertainment center to Toledo. We encourage kids to unplug, explore new challenges and attractions, and create memorable moments for families at Launch,” concluded Arnold.