New Roc City
Encyclopedia
New Roc City is an entertainment complex in the city of New Rochelle
in Westchester County, New York
. The complex opened in the summer of 1999 as the centerpiece of the efforts to revitalize the downtown area of New Rochelle. The 1200000 square feet (111,483.6 m²) project cost $190 million and featured a 19-screen movie theater
, Westchester County
's first IMAX
theater (preceding White Plains City Center's Cinema de Lux), mini-golf, go karts, an arcade, a health club, laser tag, bowling, an ice rink (now Monroe College Athletic Center),restaurants, shopping centers and other fun nightlife activity. There is a small police sub-precinct at the center of New Street.
The core and shell architecture for New Roc City was designed by the White Plains, New York
-based architecture firm Peg Park LLC. PEG Park was also the architect of record for this project. The design for the exterior facades and the interiors of the Sports Plus center was done by Haverson Architecture & Design PC from Greenwich, Connecticut
. At the request of the developer Louis Capelli, the facades were designed to resemble classic New York City
buildings. The interiors of the Sports Plus center were designed based on a New York City theme as well. Originally, what is now the Speedway was a second ice skating rink themed to look like Central Park
. When viewed from this rink, the second and third floors were given faux detailing to mimic the riveted steel construction seen at Grand Central Station. The third floor arcades were themed to look like NYC rooftops. Murals depicting the surrounding NYC skyline surround the whole third floor. Faux brick and stone parapet walls along with dramatic lighting enhance the rooftop effect.
Atop New Roc City, in the center of the Funfuzion Arcade, is an amusement ride called the Space Shot. It is a 185' tall 8'x 8' wide tower with 12 seats on a roller assembly attached to the outside of the tower. The ride is powered by hydraulic pistons and shoots riders to the top of the tower in less than 3 seconds, offering a stomach churning thrill, as well as brief views of the Long Island Sound
and the surrounding areas.
The complex also contains a Regal Cinemas
multiplex and IMAX
theater, bowling alley (New Roc'n Bowl), 25 table billiards hall (New Roc Rack & Cue), electric go-kart track (New Roc Speedway), a glow in the dark miniature golf course (Funfuzion Mini Golf), a Marriott Residence Inn, a Bally Total Fitness, EastWest Karate Jujitsu, an ice cream cafe, a Modell's
store, and a Stop & Shop Supermarket
. 'The Lofts at New Roc' apartment complex is also attached to the main complex structure.
On Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007, 200 police officers were called in to disperse a crowd of teenagers who converged on the complex. A melee erupted after select individuals had been denied entrance into the complex. Two were injured and six individuals were arrested. Following the incident, management and local officials announced plans to improve security and discourage loitering at New Roc City. It was also reported that the complex was undergoing transition to "a primarily retail facility."
New Roc began a major conversion into a retail-based complex beginning in May 2008. It is rumored that the new retail stores to occupy New Roc will be Target
and Kohl's
. Best Buy
, for a while, was also rumored to be another planned store. The space is currently occupied by a Planet Fitness
.
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
in Westchester County, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The complex opened in the summer of 1999 as the centerpiece of the efforts to revitalize the downtown area of New Rochelle. The 1200000 square feet (111,483.6 m²) project cost $190 million and featured a 19-screen movie theater
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
, Westchester County
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
's first IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
theater (preceding White Plains City Center's Cinema de Lux), mini-golf, go karts, an arcade, a health club, laser tag, bowling, an ice rink (now Monroe College Athletic Center),restaurants, shopping centers and other fun nightlife activity. There is a small police sub-precinct at the center of New Street.
The core and shell architecture for New Roc City was designed by the White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
-based architecture firm Peg Park LLC. PEG Park was also the architect of record for this project. The design for the exterior facades and the interiors of the Sports Plus center was done by Haverson Architecture & Design PC from Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
. At the request of the developer Louis Capelli, the facades were designed to resemble classic New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
buildings. The interiors of the Sports Plus center were designed based on a New York City theme as well. Originally, what is now the Speedway was a second ice skating rink themed to look like Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
. When viewed from this rink, the second and third floors were given faux detailing to mimic the riveted steel construction seen at Grand Central Station. The third floor arcades were themed to look like NYC rooftops. Murals depicting the surrounding NYC skyline surround the whole third floor. Faux brick and stone parapet walls along with dramatic lighting enhance the rooftop effect.
Atop New Roc City, in the center of the Funfuzion Arcade, is an amusement ride called the Space Shot. It is a 185' tall 8'x 8' wide tower with 12 seats on a roller assembly attached to the outside of the tower. The ride is powered by hydraulic pistons and shoots riders to the top of the tower in less than 3 seconds, offering a stomach churning thrill, as well as brief views of the Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
and the surrounding areas.
Regal Cinemas
Regal Cinemas is a UK-based cinema chain since the early days of the cinema. In 1928, Regal Cinemas became part of Associated British Cinemas but has retained the name 'Regal Cinemas'....
multiplex and IMAX
IMAX
IMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
theater, bowling alley (New Roc'n Bowl), 25 table billiards hall (New Roc Rack & Cue), electric go-kart track (New Roc Speedway), a glow in the dark miniature golf course (Funfuzion Mini Golf), a Marriott Residence Inn, a Bally Total Fitness, EastWest Karate Jujitsu, an ice cream cafe, a Modell's
Modell's
Modell's is a sporting goods retailer with locations in the Northeastern United States. Modell's carries both sporting goods and related apparel. Modell's currently has more than 140 retail locations in ten states and the District of Columbia as of 2008...
store, and a Stop & Shop Supermarket
Stop & Shop
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company is a chain of supermarkets located mostly in the northeastern United States. Its main rivals are Shaw's Star Market and Hannaford in New England, while ShopRite and the A&P family of supermarkets are its main competition in New York and New Jersey.- History :Stop...
. 'The Lofts at New Roc' apartment complex is also attached to the main complex structure.
On Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007, 200 police officers were called in to disperse a crowd of teenagers who converged on the complex. A melee erupted after select individuals had been denied entrance into the complex. Two were injured and six individuals were arrested. Following the incident, management and local officials announced plans to improve security and discourage loitering at New Roc City. It was also reported that the complex was undergoing transition to "a primarily retail facility."
New Roc began a major conversion into a retail-based complex beginning in May 2008. It is rumored that the new retail stores to occupy New Roc will be Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
and Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
. Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, for a while, was also rumored to be another planned store. The space is currently occupied by a Planet Fitness
Planet fitness
Planet Fitness is an American franchise of fitness centers based in Dover, New Hampshire. Each gym features exercise equipment and personal trainers to assist its members. It markets itself as a "Judgement Free Zone", though somewhat controversially it has rules in place to discourage deadlifters...
.