Launch Development Chief Helps Family Entertainment Concept Push Expansion

When he’s not whitewater kayaking and practicing his golf swing, Jeff Todd is leading Launch Entertainment’s strategic team to bring the trampoline park franchise to new cities around the country. “The pressure’s on and I really have to deliver for the company,” said Todd.

In March, Launch promoted Todd to chief development officer. “I’m really excited about it and I feel honored that they trust me with the role,” he said.

Previously with Driven Brands, Todd came to Launch in 2022 as senior vice president of business development. In that role, he led franchise sales and worked on site selection efforts, which he will continue to do as CDO. He’s now also responsible for developing and executing broader development strategies for the team.

Todd admitted there’s more pressure with the new title, and he has different priorities vying for his attention. Developing Launch is the overarching goal, and Todd is looking for the right partners to make that happen.

“A good partner for us is more than someone who’s just capital and wants to be part of the family, which are both good characteristics,” said Todd. “It’s also making sure they have an understanding of the franchisee-franchisor relationship, experience running teams and creating the culture.”

Todd wants to have a mutually successful partnership, so having a franchisee with experience and passion is the high standard. Understanding the market will also help franchisees overcome challenges, mainly the difficulty finding real estate. Launch locations are large, at roughly 30,000 to 50,000 square feet.

Operating in smaller spaces is possible, but including the necessary attractions for a family adventure park concept requires a certain footprint. In addition to trampolines, many Launch units have restaurants, bars and arcades.

To mitigate challenges, Launch meets with landlords regularly to help them understand how the concept fits in a given site.

Launch is pursuing nationwide expansion but with a focus now on the Midwest and southern United States. Many of the concept’s 27 locations are in the Northeast, including in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The next openings on the docket are in Texas and Colorado, while deals are in the works along the East Coast and in Arizona. Seven units are under construction.

“Where we want to be in real estate, there’s a lot of demand,” said Todd. “We’re agnostic where we want to grow and we want to grow with great franchise partners along the way.”

New Trampoline Park, Family Fun Center Coming To Morris County

Launch Entertainment has trampolines, bowling and other family fun. A local group signed a deal to open a location in the Morristown area.

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Launch, a family entertainment franchise, recently signed an agreement to bring new indoor fun parks to several New Jersey towns, including Morristown.

Launch Entertainment began as an indoor trampoline park and a small arcade when they opened their first location in Rhode Island. Since 2012, the concept has since evolved to a range of family-entertainment options under one roof, with a variety of attractions as well as an in-house restaurant and bar.

Launch recently signed agreements with local entrepreneurs to open family amusement centers in New Brunswick and Morristown as well as in New Hope, Pa., an announcement said. The first of these three new centers is slated to open in 2025.

A representative said the site for this Morristown park is still being determined, adding that the location is expected to be more than 30,000 square feet.

Launch said these new entertainment parks will include a bowling alley, arcade games, an air track basketball court, obstacle courses, and more. A restaurant and bar are also part of the plans,.

The company also announced an agreement for a park in Cherry Hill earlier this year, set to open next spring.

Launch currently has 29 locations across 14 states, including one in Deptford (Gloucester County). These three newly-announced locations will be owned and operated by Ashish Kumar, Manan Patel, and Keyur Patel.

“From site selection to opening day and beyond, the support offered by the corporate team is truly unmatched,” Kumar said in a statement. “Combining that with our dedication to creating a positive family entertainment destination in our communities, we are confident to hit the ground with Launch and look forward to the opening of our first park.”

To learn more, visit https://launchfamilyentertainment.com.

Launch Entertainment Adding 2 New Family Fun Parks in NJ

As part of an expansion effort across the Mid-Atlantic region, indoor family entertainment venue Launch Entertainment plans on opening two new parks in New Jersey.

Under a franchise agreement with local entrepreneurs Ashish Kumar, Manan Patel and Keyur Patel, the Rhode Island-based concept will add two sites in Central Jersey, as well as one in New Hope, Pa.

Its lineup of attractions will include:

• Trampoline courts
• Bowling
• Laser tag
• Axe throwing
• Basketball courts
• Obstacle courses
• Arcade games

Launch also features a restaurant and bar.

According to Launch, site selection is underway. The group is reportedly looking in the areas of Morristown and New Brunswick. The first park’s projected opening date is early 2025, Launch added.

Ready to launch

The new franchisees have a background that includes real estate investment, retail and international trade. They said the decision to pursue an investment with Launch came after “extensive research for our next business venture.” Kumar said, “We are confident in our investment with Launch Entertainment … The support offered by the corporate team is truly unmatched. Combining that with our dedication to creating a positive family entertainment destination in our communities, we are confident to hit the ground with Launch and look forward to the opening of our first park.”

Founded in 2012, Launch has 29 locations in 14 states. Within New Jersey, it has a venue in Deptford and a recently announced park in Cherry Hill. Launch Chief Development Officer Jeff Todd commented on the new three-unit deal. “Launch Entertainment is continuing to aggressively expand nationwide through standout franchisees like Ashish, Manan and Keyur,” Todd said.

“This multi-unit agreement is allowing us to reach a larger audience and continue building out our footprint on the East Coast. We look forward to the first park opening next year and are seeking strong partnerships with operators interested in expanding with our brand,” he continued.

New Jersey is one of several markets Launch has targeted for growth and seeking franchisees. The brand is also focusing on Georgia, Texas, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Connecticut, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Alabama, Kansas and Missouri.

Family entertainment center to open 2 more N.J. locations

Launch Entertainment, a family entertainment franchise, has signed an agreement to add three new locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The new installments are slated to open in Morristown, New Brunswick and New Hope, Pennsylvania, with the first location expected to begin operating in 2025, according to a news release.

The centers, which will feature a bowling alley, arcade games, an air track basketball court, obstacle courses, a Krave restaurant and a bar, will be owned and operated by local entrepreneurs Ashish Kumar, Manan Patel and Keyur Patel.

New family entertainment venue to replace DSW in Denver suburb

A husband-and-wife duo are opening a new family entertainment facility in Broomfield.

Brent and Kathleen Malocsay have signed a lease at 595 Flatiron Blvd. in Broomfield to open a new Launch Entertainment venue, complete with indoor trampolines, arcade games, bowling, a restaurant and more. The new owners are planning to open for business by the end of the year.

With backgrounds in finance and construction, the Malocsays had been searching for a new business opportunity after successfully operating vacation rentals in Orlando, Florida. The couple came across Launch, a family entertainment franchise that opened its first location in Rhode Island in 2012.

“[We] finally came across a concept that we like and feel like it’s gonna be profitable and enjoyable for us to do,” Brent said.

The Malocsays selected the location in Broomfield for its proximity to their home and their target demographic of families and young adults.

“It has a good shopping center next to it, obviously, with the [FlatIron Crossing] mall there. There’s a lot of up-and-coming development … there’s just a lot of family-oriented stuff in the area already,” Brent said.

The new facility is 35,000 square feet, and is currently occupied by Designer Shoe Warehouse, which will move to the mall next door. Launch gets possession of the building in September.

In addition to eight bowling lanes, trampolines and 20 arcade games, Launch will have four lanes of ax throwing, a basketball court, a virtual reality laser tag game, a two-story ropes course, an obstacle course and a rock climbing wall.

It will also have a bar and restaurant and guests can host birthday parties or other events at the new venue.

While the Malocsays considered other franchise opportunities — including other restaurants and indoor trampoline park franchises — they ultimately picked Launch for its variety of attractions, and the flexibility that Launch gives its franchisees.

Launch’s franchise fees are $75,000, plus 6% in monthly royalty fees. Rent is $46,000 per month at the facility, according to Brent.

The new Launch facility will employ approximately 30 people.

In the next two to five years, the Malocsays plan to open a second Launch entertainment facility and are considering the Greeley, Loveland or Centennial areas.

“We’re just really hoping that bringing this to Broomfield is really going to be a spot where the community can come together,” Kathleen said.

In addition to Launch, families and adventure seekers in the Denver metro area are getting a venue called the American Ninja Warrior Adventure Park in Denver’s Washington Virginia Vale neighborhood. Another couple opened a trampoline franchise in a former department store in Centennial earlier this year.

Launch to expand into Colorado

Launch Entertainment has signed a franchise agreement to bring a new venue to Denver, Colorado, US.

The new park will be owned and operated by local entrepreneurs Brent and Kathleen Malocsay, and situated in the Broomfield area of the city.

The new destination will be the first Launch park in Colorado and will feature indoor trampolines, bowling, arcades, a Krave restaurant, and more.

“As a business owner and mother, I recognised the lack of family entertainment options in the Denver region, so this is an exciting endeavour for Brent and me,” said Kathleen.

“Indoor entertainment is an industry that continues to grow, and we are fortunate to be part of the craze. I am confident our local community will embrace this awesome space, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to open later this year.”

Launch Entertainment currently has 29 locations across 14 states in the US, with several new locations in development.

The Broomfield location is set to open in the latter half of 2024.