WILLIAMSBURG — Williamsburg City Council approved a special use permit Thursday to allow Slick City Action Park to move forward with a family entertainment center at the former Yankee Candle Factory.
According to the application, Slick City is an indoor sports and recreation venue that includes waterless slides, arcade games, soft play zones, climbing structures, and air-based obstacle courses, offering activities for families and children.
Staff recommended the approval of the special use permit to allow Slick City to operate at 2200 Richmond Road, receiving unanimous approval at the June 18 Planning Commission meeting and at the Architectural Review Board’s June 24 meeting.
“It may not be what was initially intended after Yankee Candle closed, but I think what we have here is a great opportunity to enhance our economy,” said Williamsburg Mayor Douglas Pons. “We’re going to attract thousands of folks to our sports and entertainment venue, this will be a nice complement to what is being offered there, to give families extra things to do.”
A family-friendly bowling-centric entertainment center was originally planned for the site, and Uptown Alley, LLC purchased the 64,000 square foot mixed-use property, situated on six acres, from Fulton Bank for $4 million in April 2023, according to Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer.
Williamsburg City Council unanimously voted to award a revenue-sharing incentive to Uptown Alley in November 2022. The performance-based revenue-sharing agreement granted a percentage of the taxes that Uptown Alley will pay to the city over five years. Capped at $600,000, it was to be used for exterior improvements to modernize the building.
The owner of the property decided not to pursue plans to develop the bowling facility and had been looking for someone to fill the space.
City Council made a motion to approve the permit, and it passed unanimously.
The next City Council meeting will be Aug. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Stryker Center. For more information, visit the official website.
