By Justin Yelda, Associate at Locations Commercial Real Estate Services
We won’t be seeing the Big Buck Brewery alongside of I-75 in Auburn Hills much longer. According to Crain’s Detroit, the city of Auburn Hills recently approved plans for a $3 million redevelopment project including a fowling center, bar and restaurant. This is great news for the area, considering Big Buck Brewery has been closed since 2006.
As mentioned in Time, "fowling" is a new sport which combines football and bowling that has recently been introduced in Metro Detroit. Michigan inventor Chris Hutt created the game while tailgating at the Indianapolis 500. The goal of the game is to throw a football at 10 bowling pins, placed in a triangular format, and knock down all the pins. Given that bowling alleys in the US have seen a decrease in business over the last two decades, the twist put to the bowling-based idea is a unique way to revamp the sport for today’s generation.
The 26,545 square-foot venue will be known as The H.U.B. (Home of Urban Bowling) and plans to open in November, 2016. The H.U.B. will attract visitors looking for an entertainment center for large and small groups. The H.U.B. will feature 16 fowling courts, two bars, two private rooms and outdoor seating. Also, there will be a fast-casual restaurant with an outstanding menu featuring stone-oven baked pizzas, burgers, tenderloins, nachos, quesadillas, blackened rare tuna and much more. The two bars will focus on craft beers.
The lodge-style structure (complete with giant beer bottle), that’s been a landmark along I-75 since it was built in 1997, is getting a complete makeover after 10 years of neglect. The bottle is coming down. Ron and Roman Inc. of Birmingham, the architect and designer of this prime space, is currently working to modernize the exterior and interior space and make it more appealing – giving it the vibe this type of venue will need to offer.
I'm looking forward to this new entertainment center because it minimizes the list of vacant properties that can be put to good use. Not only will it be a new destination spot that will attract people from all sides of town (including myself), but also an employment opportunity for over 100 people.
