It's a sad state of affairs these days on Grays Ferry Avenue, with two shuttered supermarkets sitting across the street from each other. For those that don't remember, Bottom Dollar built a new building on Grays Ferry Avenue and opened in early 2014, but closed before the end of that year. More recently, with the A&P bankruptcy, the Grays Ferry Pathmark closed its doors at the end of 2015. This street wasn't winning any prizes when both stores were open, and now things are definitively worse.
We've heard whispers and rumors over the last few months though, suggesting that better times are ahead. Grays Ferry Civic reported a couple months ago that Fresh Grocer could be coming to the former Pathmark space, but we haven't heard anything else about that rumor since then. Meanwhile, the talented people at MSC Retail have been listing the Bottom Dollar space for the last few months, and they're typically very good when it comes to finding tenants- it's what they do, after all.
So it should come as no surprise that we've learned that a lease has indeed been signed for the former Bottom Dollar space. The folks who own Ultrazone Laser Tag in Bensalem will be taking over the space, offering a large laser tag arena, an arcade with prize games, and a small concession stand. Not only will they offer packages for birthday parties, but they'll also have a laser tag league on Tuesday nights.
Not to be outdone by the building across the street and perhaps in an effort to exact some revenge, the company that manages the Grays Ferry Pathmark shopping center has found a very similar tenant for the former Pathmark space. They've signed a lease with Laserdome, a laser tag company out of Lancaster that will feature almost identical offerings to the Ultrazone, but in a larger space. Both locations, of course, will face some stiff competition from the planned laser tag facility less than half a mile away at 21st & Washington. Can the area sustain this much laser tag? We'll find out soon enough.
Update: Sadly, laser tag isn't actually coming to either location. Bummer, we know.