Uptown Alley opens $10 million bowling/entertainment venue in China

Uphoff Ventures, a family-owned business based in Chesterfield County, opened Uptown Alley in Changzhou, China, on Friday in the Global Harbor Mall.

This is the first Uptown Alley to open overseas and, according to Uphoff Ventures, will be the largest bowling and entertainment venue in China.  Changzhou is located in the Jiangsu Province about 110 miles from Shanghai. The city has a population of more than 4.6 million.

The new $10 million, 58,000-square-foot Uptown Alley offers 37 regulation-sized bowling lanes, four bars, billiards, sports theater with 50 HD tvs, a sound stage for live entertainment, 60 arcade games and two restaurants offering Western cuisine blended with traditional Chinese dishes.

“Uphoff Ventures is proud to mark the international expansion of Uptown Alley and opening of the first of many bowling and entertainment venues across China,” Steve Uphoff, the company’s founder and CEO, said in a statement.

Uptown Alley plans five additional locations in the next three years and 15 additional locations in China in seven years.
Brunswick Bowling is a key strategic partner for Uptown Alley and the exclusive equipment supplier for the China initiatives.

The China venture is the Uphoffs’ fourth bowling and entertainment venue. It joins sites in Manassas, Richmond, and Surprise, Ariz. A location in Virginia Beach is under construction and scheduled for a mid-2017 opening.

The development of an Uptown Alley also is also underway in White Plains, NY.

“Uptown Alley was created as an innovative, world-class destination for guests to socialize and enjoy games and live entertainment with delicious food and drinks,” said Michael Auger, managing partner of Trifecta Management Group (TMG), the development and operations partner firm of Uptown Alley.  “Our goal is to create a compelling memorable experience for our guests, offering something that everyone can enjoy either informally or for special occasions such as social gatherings, corporate events and special celebrations.”