Former Rite Aid properties in New Jersey and California are expected to re-open in the coming months with a completely new reuse:
As “interactive gaming” locations for Activate Games.
Winnipeg-based Activate Games bills itself as the world’s first active gaming facility.
But Activate is no upstart.
Over 40 locations are already open in the United States and 12 other countries.
Activate offers interactive arcade-style games where participants become players in a “real-life” video game.
The way it works is that players enter a game room equipped with interactive technology that responds in real-time to their actions.
Instead of using controllers, participants move, jump and react to challenges delivered through technology embedded in the game room.
Game types include dodgeball, climbing, basketball and a laser maze experience where participants solve challenges to earn points and reach the next level.
In other words, Activate is like an “escape room meets immersive experience.”
Games are generally limited to 60 minutes, played by 3 – 5 participants and booked online in advance with families accounting for 70% of customers.
Unlike game centers and arcades such as Dave & Busters, people do not linger at Activate facilities since no food or beverages are offered onsite.
Additionally, while many game centers occupy large Big Box buildings, most Activate Games’ sites are in real estate that is just 10,000 – 15,000 square feet.
Or big enough to accommodate up to 12 individual game rooms as well as bathrooms and a lobby area.
And, incidentally, the exact size range of most former drugstores.
In fact Activate Games has already repurposed multiple former drugstore sites as gaming facilities.
Like this former Rite Aid in the Atlanta area.
As well as this converted CVS drugstore in Dallas, Texas.
Last Fall Activate entered into an agreement with Sounds Fun Entertainment, a U.S. franchisee that plans to open 50 facilities in 21 states over the coming years.
Including several that will be in converted drugstores.
One new Activate Games facility will be located in a former Rite Aid building along Route 38 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and less than one mile away from Cherry Hill Mall, one of the largest shopping malls in southern New Jersey.
Few changes are anticipated to convert the ~15,000 square foot former Cherry Hill Rite Aid into an interactive gaming venue.
For instance, light modifications will be made to the exterior facade and the building’s drive-thru area will remain but won’t be used.
The clear span interior of the building will be subdivided into a dozen rooms for game play.
And the loading area will be swapped out in favor of additional parking spaces.
Activate is also in the process of converting a vacant Rite Aid in Roseville, California into a gaming facility.
The former Roseville Rite Aid property is nearly identical to the Cherry Hill Rite Aid building which should allow Activate to easily replicate the conversion.
It is expected to open by February 2026.
More repurposes of drugstores will also likely be on tap for Activate Games.
Not only do the size and dimensions fit but also many drugstore buildings are situated in the densely populated, high traffic areas where Activate prefers to locate.
Even the small parking areas at most former drugstore sites do not pose a problem.
Activate is not a parking intensive use since nearly all games are pre-booked online and only 3 – 5 players participate in each room.
Additionally, the lack of food or beverage offerings means no extended stays for parties and other gatherings—so parking is utilized only by players.
But the biggest reason why Activate Games may seek out ex-drugstore sites?
Availability.
Nearly 2,000 Rite Aid drugstores and hundreds of CVS and Walgreens locations have closed in just the past 2 years and all throughout the country.
To be sure there will likely be competition for vacant drugstore buildings from conventional retail tenants like dollar stores and grocery stores as well as users such as car washes and convenience stores.
However, Activate’s unique concept, minimal buildout requirements and fast-to-open model likely make it a formidable tenant to backfill empty drugstores.
