By GREGORY ZELLER //
A one-of-a-kind mall with creativity in its foundation has added another innovative tenant, where science, mathematics and engineering are all fun and games.
Snapology, an educational-support franchise offering year-round interactive programming, and XP League, self-billed as North America’s “premier youth esports league,” have announced the opening of a “joint discovery center and esports league” at Samanea New York, the adventurous shopping center rising in Westbury.
With a special grand opening event scheduled for June 24 and 25, the state-of-the-art play center will become the latest high-tech entertainment addition to the 750,000-square-foot entertainment/dining/shopping destination, which is slowly – but impressively – remaking the former Fortunoff Mall at the Source site on Old Country Road.
With shopping heavyweights like worldwide Asian supermarket 99 Ranch Market and a Bloomingdale’s furniture outlet – along with top dining options including Dave & Buster’s, KPOT Hot Pot & Barbecue and The Cheesecake Factory – already in the fold, the high-end mall is now multiplying its entertainment attractions.
Undercover education: At Snapology, kids learn engineering, coding and other advanced scientific principles — but they wouldn’t know it.
In April, almost two years after signing on as a cornerstone tenant, California-based golf-simulation franchise X-Golf America finally opened up inside Samanea New York, with immersive art experience Beyond Van Gogh already turning heads and plenty more exciting attractions inbound – including obstacle course operator Empire Adventure Park, indoor rock gym The Gravity Vault and adult-themed adventurer Ryco’s Escape Room and Lounge.
Before all that, the combo STEAM center/esports hub comes to town, combining the best of Snapology – which offers robotics, videogame design and other tech-heavy team-building programs for students ages 2 to 14 – and XP League, the first Positive Coaching Alliance-led competitive gaming league for North American elementary, middle and high school players.
The 5,000-square-foot-plus space includes three classrooms – one each for Snapology and XP League, with a third reserved for parties and other group events.
The Snapology Discovery Center engages children through coding, animation and other STEAM-based activities, with creative play stations incorporating LEGO bricks, the digital Minecraft platform, virtual reality headsets and more.
In the XP League space, a full lineup of coach-led esport competitions are queued and ready, with Fortnite, Rocket League, Overwatch, League of Legends and other leading videogames set for player one.
Snapology and XP League are both in the portfolio of Texas-based parent Unleashed Brands, which also rolls out Urban Air Adventure Parks, The Little Gym International and other well-known brands as part of its nationwide youth-enrichment platform.
Combining the educational franchise and the competitive-gaming champion under one STEM-reinforcing, anti-bullying, fair play-promoting roof made logical sense – and made for another great addition to Samanea New York’s unique lineup, according to entrepreneurs Paul Bodycomb and Nancy Seltzer, the franchisees behind the new attraction.
“We are excited to bring this Discovery Center concept and esports league together into one facility that is unlike anything we’ve ever created,” the duo said in a statement. “The new Samanea Mall in Westbury is quickly becoming a mecca for family fun and activities in the area, so we’re excited to … bring a truly unique experience to families with children of all ages and interests, helping them learn, play and grow.”
