Worcester Business Journal

22 Worcester Business Journal | January 6, 2020 | wbjournal.com B E S T O F B U S I N E S S E V E N T S & V E N U E S BEST VENUE FOR AN EMPLOYEE OUTING Apex Entertainment* Marlborough, www.apexentertainment.com Top executive: Chief Operating Officer Marcus Kemblowski Founded: 2017 Employees: 200+ Notable runner-up: Kimball Farm Apex Entertainment makes employee gatherings fun BY GRANT WELKER Worcester Business Journal News Editor T wo years aer Apex Enter- tainment opened in Marl- borough, the 80,000-square- foot entertainment mecca has carved out a place for itself opposite what can sometimes be drab meeting environments. e region might not think of a com- plex with bowling, an arcade, bumper cars, go-karts, laser tag and sports simulators as a go-to place for business gatherings. But it's become that, said Sam Miller, Apex's marketing manager. "Large companies, small companies, that's really our bread and butter," Miller said. "ey'll throw an arcade or laser tag in between meetings." e most popular? "Bowling just dwarfs everything else," Miller said. Tucked in between those flashier features, Apex has 4,000 square feet of meeting space, to fit up to 250 people. Companies may be less likely to book Apex for a quarterly staff meeting, for example, than a holiday party. But with on-site catering options, including doz- ens of gluten-free options, it can easily compete with, say, any of Marlborough's numerous hotels. "It's definitely a big differentiator," Miller said. Apex Entertainment is part of the surrounding Apex Center of New England on Route 20, with a few dozen tenants: Hyatt Place, Fairfield Inn & Suites and a range of restaurants and retailers, including 110 Grill, Hot Table, Friendly's and Evviva Trattoria. ere's also an office building next to the enter- tainment center, whose tenants include a 15,000-square-foot shared work space by the firm Venture X, along with the soware company Vidsys, Kuchnir Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery, and the construction contractor firm Whiting-Turner. While not technically part of Apex Entertainment, the building shares its space with other draws as well, including a Planet Fitness, the escape room site Breakout, Altitude Trampoline Park, and Half Axe, a place to throw an ax in a safe and fun way. e entertainment complex itself draws from across much of Massachu- setts, particularly the central and eastern parts of the state, along with pockets of New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It has been expanding its programming to include a go-kart tournament, a longest-drive competition at the golf simulator and a kids' video game tour- nament. en there's been the geographic expansion. Marlborough has been the first for what is now three locations, with a fourth soon on the way. A Syracuse, N.Y., location opened in early 2019, and an Albany, N.Y., outpost in December. Another in Virginia Beach will join them by the end of 2020. BEST VENUE FOR A CORPORATE EVENT Apex Center of New England Marlborough, www.apexcenterne.com Founded: 2017 Top executive: Principal Robert Walker The $160-million, 475,000-square-foot Apex Center development is awash with places to conduct events, including a Hyatt Place hotel and a Fairfield Inn & Suites. The property offers numerous options for event goers to visit before and after, with retailers and restaurants, along with the Apex Entertainment complex. Notable runner-up: Mechanics Hall BEST NEW REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT 145 Front at City Square Worcester, www.145frontapartments.com Developer: Roseland Residential Trust, a subsidiary of Mack-Cali Realty Corp. Headquarters: Jersey City, N.J. Websites: roselandres.com, www.mack-cali.com Top executive: CEO Michael DeMarco Founded: 1992 Employees: 170 Roseland is known for innovative, lifestyle-oriented communities, enriching the quality of life for residents and enhancing the economic vitality of their surrounding environments. In Worcester, Roseland's 145 Front Street is serving as a cornerstone for the city's downtown revitalization efforts. Notable runner-up: Mercantile Center BEST GOLF CLUB FOR CORPORATE OUTING Worcester Country Club Worcester, worcestercc.org Top executive: Head Golf Pro Allan Belden Founded: 1900 The Worcester Country Club clubhouse has multiple space for events overlooking the championship course. There is seating for nearly 450 indoors & nearly 200 out- doors, with flexibility for creating entertain- ment spaces. Notable runners-up: Wachusett Country Club, Cyprian Keyes Golf Club, The International BEST PUBLIC GOLF COURSE Green Hill Municipal Golf Course* Worcester, www.greenhillgc.com Top executive: Matthew Moison Founded: 1929 This course owned by the City of Bowling is the most popular activity at Apex Entertainment. Oditempos denis conseni hiciet, W

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