Entertainment center approved for Yankee Candle site in Williamsburg
Slick City Action park would feature water-less slides, arcades and climbing courses
The on again, off again plans for an indoor entertainment venue at the site of Williamsburg’s Yankee Candle store are back on.
Williamsburg city council voted Thursday to approve a special use permit for Slick City Action Park to establish an indoor family entertainment venue featuring water-less indoor slides, arcades, climbing courses and air courses.
Yankee Candle closed in April 2021, and Richmond-based entertainment company Uptown Alley bought the building with plans to turn it into a multi-level entertainment center with a bowling alley, arcade and restaurant. But the cost of renovating the 65,000 square foot building proved too high, according to news reports, and the company pulled out.
Slick City is a franchise that was founded in 2022. It has 16 open locations and 40 under construction, according to its website.
Williamsburg City Council approved $600,000 in tax rebates for Uptown Alley’s original plans. No mention has been made about a tax rebate for Slick City, and we could not reach a spokesperson for either the city or Slick City for more details this afternoon.
Mayor Douglas G. Pons called the venue “a great opportunity to enhance our economy.”
City council also approved plans to switch its parking vendor to Passport Parking Management. Passport provides an app that allows motorists to pay for their parking, receive notices their allotted time is set to expire, and add more time.
Williamsburg’s current vendor, NuPark, is being terminated by its owner effective Aug. 15, Chief Information Officer Mark Barhman told city council.
Bahrman said Passport, which is also used by Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary, allows users to preload their accounts, much like EZ Pass works, and allow the balance to be debited as they park.
Council member Ayanna T. Williams asked Bahrman if the switch can be made in time, given the current system will be closed in just over a month.
“I think we can make it, but it will be tight,” Bahrman said.