Steve Uphoff and Ding Zoulong, who is part of the Chinese investment group bringing Uptown Alley to the country.
Steve Uphoff is rolling further into the Far East.
Backed by a new set of Chinese investors, the local businessman and founder of bowling alley chain Uptown Alley announced plans last week to open 15 locations for the brand in China over the next five years, a more aggressive expansion than Uphoff announced in 2014 with a different set of investors.
“This new investor is much more aggressive,” Uphoff said. “The idea ultimately is to expand the brand throughout China much like a KFC or McDonald’s.”
Global Harbor Mall
The first of the bowling sites will open in September in Global Harbor Mall, a 9.2 million-square-foot center in Changzhou, China. That Uptown Alley will have 63,000 square feet, two stories and 37 bowling lanes, two of which will have Hollywood and New York themes. The entertainment site will cater to children and adults with two dining areas, three bars and arcade games, among other amenities.
The venture is partly backed by Jiangsu Jiangnan Global Harbor Mall Co. Ltd., which owns the mall and has a 40 percent stake of the first location. Moving forward, Uphoff and his family will retain a majority stake in each location but the exact ratio of ownership will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Uphoff opened the first Uptown Alley in 2012 in Surprise, Arizona. A 60,000-square-foot, 40-lane Midlothian location opened later that year.
Bowling isn’t the only lane where Uphoff puts his money: he founded the Uppy’s convenience store chain and earlier this year acquired a chain of convenience stores in Florida. He also has said he plans to build a high-rise apartment building at the corner of Grace and Belvidere streets near VCU’s forthcoming Institute for Contemporary Art. The site is currently home to one of his gas stations.
The Midlothian Uptown Alley opened in 2012.
“We’re about to announce the plans we’ve worked up collectively,” Uphoff said of his discussions with VCU on the Grace and Belvidere property. “We want to make sure that what we build is compatible with what they’ve developed and what they’re planning to develop.”
Uphoff is also still working a proposed $160 million water park complex near the Midlothian Uptown Alley backed by a Quanzhou, China-based investment firm called the Jinma Group. Those plans were first announced in 2014 and Uphoff said he is working on the project with a “prolific water park group” that has three locations elsewhere in the U.S. He said the plan has received positive feedback from Chesterfield County officials.
“We’ll meet with the neighbors that are contiguous to our properties and the county to share with them our plans and get cooperation in developing it,” Uphoff said.
As for his interest in China, Uphoff said he has been traveling to the country for more than a decade and sees an opening in the culture for some American-style fun.
“It’s like bringing McDonald’s hamburgers to a market that’s never seen a hamburger before,” he said, adding that China’s expanding middle class is looking for ways to use its disposable income. “China doesn’t have any real entertainment or sports. The government in China is seeking development in both of those areas.”
Steve Uphoff and Ding Zoulong, who is part of the Chinese investment group bringing Uptown Alley to the country.
Steve Uphoff is rolling further into the Far East.
Backed by a new set of Chinese investors, the local businessman and founder of bowling alley chain Uptown Alley announced plans last week to open 15 locations for the brand in China over the next five years, a more aggressive expansion than Uphoff announced in 2014 with a different set of investors.
“This new investor is much more aggressive,” Uphoff said. “The idea ultimately is to expand the brand throughout China much like a KFC or McDonald’s.”
Global Harbor Mall
The first of the bowling sites will open in September in Global Harbor Mall, a 9.2 million-square-foot center in Changzhou, China. That Uptown Alley will have 63,000 square feet, two stories and 37 bowling lanes, two of which will have Hollywood and New York themes. The entertainment site will cater to children and adults with two dining areas, three bars and arcade games, among other amenities.
The venture is partly backed by Jiangsu Jiangnan Global Harbor Mall Co. Ltd., which owns the mall and has a 40 percent stake of the first location. Moving forward, Uphoff and his family will retain a majority stake in each location but the exact ratio of ownership will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Uphoff opened the first Uptown Alley in 2012 in Surprise, Arizona. A 60,000-square-foot, 40-lane Midlothian location opened later that year.
Bowling isn’t the only lane where Uphoff puts his money: he founded the Uppy’s convenience store chain and earlier this year acquired a chain of convenience stores in Florida. He also has said he plans to build a high-rise apartment building at the corner of Grace and Belvidere streets near VCU’s forthcoming Institute for Contemporary Art. The site is currently home to one of his gas stations.
The Midlothian Uptown Alley opened in 2012.
“We’re about to announce the plans we’ve worked up collectively,” Uphoff said of his discussions with VCU on the Grace and Belvidere property. “We want to make sure that what we build is compatible with what they’ve developed and what they’re planning to develop.”
Uphoff is also still working a proposed $160 million water park complex near the Midlothian Uptown Alley backed by a Quanzhou, China-based investment firm called the Jinma Group. Those plans were first announced in 2014 and Uphoff said he is working on the project with a “prolific water park group” that has three locations elsewhere in the U.S. He said the plan has received positive feedback from Chesterfield County officials.
“We’ll meet with the neighbors that are contiguous to our properties and the county to share with them our plans and get cooperation in developing it,” Uphoff said.
As for his interest in China, Uphoff said he has been traveling to the country for more than a decade and sees an opening in the culture for some American-style fun.
“It’s like bringing McDonald’s hamburgers to a market that’s never seen a hamburger before,” he said, adding that China’s expanding middle class is looking for ways to use its disposable income. “China doesn’t have any real entertainment or sports. The government in China is seeking development in both of those areas.”
I know space is expensive but an alley downtown in Richmond (by anyone) would be awesome!