While big-box stores and new restaurants continue to crop up in Falcon, the one aspect still lagging is overall family fun and entertainment. That’s about to change. iT’Z is coming to the First & Main Town Center.Although iT’Z won’t exactly be in Falcon’s backyard, it’s close enough; and Falcon’s growth is one reason that company executives chose the east side of Colorado Springs as the site of their third center, said Mark Moore, president and chief executive officer.iT’Z is a fairly new concept in family entertainment – the first center opened just a year ago in Albuquerque, N.M. In May, iT’Z opened in Houston, Texas.”iT’Z” what?”iT’Z” 45,000 square feet of indoor entertainment and dining – all focused on the family.Take a Sunday afternoon in mid October. It’s a family day, but Dad wants to watch the Broncos. Mom would like to forego the cooking for one day and spend quality time with the family. Fifteen-year-old Billy wants to play video games, and 10-year-old Susie wants to go bowling. How to please everyone? Just do iT’Z.More than 150 video games, bumper cars, speedway races (little cars for little people), bowling lanes and amusement rides are all part of iT’Z entertainment hub, Moore said. Mixed in with playtime activities are four themed dining areas, available at all times. There’s the GameTime dining room, where dad (or mom) can catch that Bronco game. The colorful Toon’z eating area, complete with “iT’Z” cartoon characters, may attract the family toddlers. The Galaxy Drive-In mirrors a drive-in movie theatre, and Hollywood, which features light jazz, is what Moore called the “quieter dining room.”No matter the choice, the food is fresh and prepared on site, Moore said. “Nothing is brought in,” he said. “We have pizzas, pastas, a salad bar, a taco bar, steamed baked potatoes, soup and desserts.” Soft drinks, tea and coffee are available as is beer, wine and a wine margarita. The latter is a small percentage of their sales, but Moore said that occasionally a parent wants to sit down with a beer – especially some of those Bronco fans.iT’Z will be available for all kinds of private events and parties. Specialty groups like sports teams, schools, churches and businesses will be able to book the facility (or part of it), which, according to a July news release, holds up to 2,000 visitors.Moore said Hewlett Packard met at the Houston iT’Z, where ski ball and bowling served as competitive team-building exercises.Whether it’s corporate America or School District 49, Moore said their mission is to support “iT’Z” communities. Through the IT’Z Smartz program for students and educators, students with good grades are rewarded with free game time.Students age 16 and older also comprise a large part of the iT’Z work force. “We provide a lot of these kids with their first job,” Moore said. “When it’s someone’s first job, we want to be a leader (for them).”Moore also said the company targets the senior community. iT’Z is an overall family experience, Moore said. “We want a diverse work force, so we recruit all ages.”The Colorado Springs store will hire about 200 people for a variety of positions. Moore said there are plentiful career opportunities in management. Top teams from Albuquerque and Houston will train the Springs employees.iT’Z leaders chose the Springs because of its “strong family orientation,” Moore said. “Focus on the Family is headquartered here, along with Young Life, and there is a military presence – it’s just a great market,” he said.Extensive research on the market pointed to the east side of the Springs as the place to be. According to iT’Z research, traffic on Powers Boulevard is the heaviest in El Paso County. The First & Main Town Center is a Nor’wood Development Group property, and Nor’wood reported that 340,000 people live within a 15-minute drive of the town center.”The east side of Colorado Springs is booming,” said Fred Veitch, vice president of Nor’wood commercial development, in the news release.Falcon was a huge factor in the company’s calculated move, Moore said. He met with School District 49 officials last week.Colarelli Construction is building the center, which is scheduled to open in March 2008. “iT’Z” right around the corner.
