Ultimate golf center coming to Edison

NJBIZ STAFF//January 21, 2016//

Ultimate golf center coming to Edison

NJBIZ STAFF//January 21, 2016//

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Topgolf International, a global golf entertainment leader, unveiled Thursday that Edison will be its first New Jersey location.Topgolf said in a news release it has begun construction on a 65,000-square-foot venue in the Hartz Mountain Industries Inc. Edison Towne Square development on Route 1.

“Hartz is pleased to add Topgolf to our development,” Gus Milano, president and chief operating officer of Hartz Mountain, said in a statement. “Topgolf brings an exciting entertainment component to the site that does not exist anywhere else in New Jersey.”

The company said in a news release it plans to hire more than 450 full- and part-time workers.

“It’s a reason why a lot of municipalities like Edison are excited about us: We’re a family friendly recreational opportunity but, beyond that, we’re a very rateable real estate use in terms of jobs and tax generation,” said Ted Hilebron, Director of Development at TopGolf.

Hilebron said the vast major of those jobs will be local hires. The employment opportunities cover the variable services offered by the facility.

“The bar/restaurant has a strong employment base; we’ll have an executive chef and 75 employees directly related to the food component of the facility,” he said. “A large percentage of our business is corporate and group events.”

Topgolf will offer competitive golfing games for all ages and skills levels. Players are able to hit golf balls containing computer microchips that track each shot’s accuracy and distance. The facility will also boast a large food and beverage menu, music, games, hitting bays and hundreds of TVs.

After 15 years of operation and 22 U.S. locations, this is the company’s first location in the Northeast. “This is something we’ve been targeting for a while, but there were hurdles to clear in order to make New Jersey a reality,” Hilebron said. “But like any big, national retailer, we had to be in New Jersey.

“The densities and the demographics are so strong that, to have a national foot print, you have to have Jersey stores.”

The economic output for the Edison location is expected to exceed $264.5 million over a 10-year period, according to a third party audit.

“Edison is one of the largest and fastest-growing townships in New Jersey, and it’s consistently recognized as one of the best places to live in the U.S., “Zach Shor, vice president of real estate development, Topgolf, said in a statement. “It will be a key market as it will allow Topgolf to serve fans from across the state as well as draw in guests from New York. We are very excited to offer residents another destination for year-round entertainment.”

The three-level location should be open to the public in December or early 2017.