Japan-based entertainment venue chain Round 1 Bowling & Arcade is moving forward with a massive three-level location at a former Nordstrom in San Diego's North County. North County Mall in Escondido is set to welcome Round1 Bowling & Arcade, a sprawling family entertainment center, to the site of the former Nordstrom department store. The Escondido City Council recently approved a 20-year ground lease agreement, solidifying plans for this significant addition to the shopping center. The new lease agreement includes an annual base rent of $100,000, with total payments expected to reach $2.7 million over the lease term.
Round1 will transform the three-level, former anchor store into a comprehensive entertainment hub featuring bowling, karaoke, Japanese arcade games, trampolines, billiards, darts, batting cages, roller skating, ping pong, and more. Guests will also be able to enjoy a menu of food and beverages, including beer, wine, and spirits. A unique feature of Round1’s offerings is its "Spo-Cha" sports challenge complex, where visitors can access various sports and entertainment activities for a single daily fee, providing a distinctive experience that sets it apart from competitors.
Round1 originated in Japan in the 1980s, starting as a roller-skating and arcade game facility founded by Masahiko Sugino. By the early 1990s, the company had evolved into a full-fledged entertainment center, adding bowling and other attractions. Today, it operates over 100 locations in Japan and more than 50 in the United States, including nearby venues in San Diego's National City and Temecula.
Construction on the $22 million Escondido project is slated to begin in 2025, with the entertainment center expected to create approximately 100 local jobs. The announcement comes at a critical time for North County Mall, which has seen significant changes in recent years.
Once a bustling retail destination, the mall opened in the mid-1980s during a surge in shopping mall developments. However, the closure of several anchor stores, including Sears and Nordstrom in 2020, has prompted city leaders to explore revitalization strategies. Discussions have included potential housing developments on the city-owned property to boost revenue and modernize the space.
The mall’s current owners, Steerpoint Capital and Bridge Group Investments, purchased the property from Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in early 2023 for $57 million. Their plans for revitalization aim to breathe new life into the shopping center, which now counts Macy’s and JCPenney as its remaining original anchor tenants. Costco was originally set to take over the former Sear's space but ultimately withdrew from the project.
Round 1 Bowling & Arcade is expected to open in late 2025 at 270 East Via Rancho Parkway in San Diego's North County city of Escondido. For more information, visit .
Originally published on December 11, 2024.Ìý
