WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – A destination for family fun in the Lehigh Valley is set to end operations later this month.
Rivals Indoor Battlefield, providing a safe indoor environment for all ages to play with Nerf guns, will hold its last day of business on Aug. 31 at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township, operator Yashira Caballero told 69 News on Thursday.
The facility, offering family fun with “the coolest alternative to paintball,” opened in 2022 on the mall’s second level, near Macy’s.
On Thursday, Caballero announced Rivals’ upcoming closure on the business’ Facebook page.
“Rivals Indoor Battlefield was conceived by a former Florida law enforcement officer, a single mother of 3, who was determined to provide a better future for her children,” the online post reads.
“Sadly, I must announce that Rivals Indoor Battlefield is closing the end of August. This decision was not made due to failure or choice, but because I was outbid out of my lease. Rivals has been in business for 2 years and 2 months, during which time we have helped celebrate numerous birthdays, ranging from children to teens and adults. We even hosted a baby shower, as evidenced by our positive Google reviews. The excitement and joy of the nerf battles will always be a cherished memory for us.”
Caballero said “brighter days are ahead,” and she is planning to open a similar entertainment center in Florida.
“Rivals Indoor Battlefield embodies the essence of family support and family fun for people of all ages,” the online post continues. “Although Rivals may be coming to an end at the Lehigh Valley Mall, the journey continues. Here's to new adventures and opportunities.”
It’s unclear what, if any, plans are in the works for the space that Rivals is vacating.
Elizabeth DiDuca, the mall’s director of marketing and business development, did not immediately return a message seeking information about a possible new tenant for the space.
As of 8 p.m. Thursday, Rivals' closing announcement had garnered several comments, primarily from customers reminiscing about fun experiences and extending warm wishes to ownership.
“I’m so sorry to hear this,” one person wrote. “We loved having my sons party there and will look forward to following you wherever you may go. One door closes so another one can open.”
Rivals allows individuals to play with a variety of Nerf Rival guns, including the motorized Charger MXX-1200 blaster, allowing you to fire a dozen rounds in a row; and the motorized Nemesis MXVII-10K, holding up to 100 rounds.
Rivals will continue operating its regular hours until Aug. 31, Caballero said.
The facility is open 3:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3:30 to 9 p.m. Fridays, noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Rivals is vacating the mall amid a slew of other changes, including the recent closure of fashion retailer Ardene; the recent openings of Stone Haven, Rally House and Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant; and the forthcoming openings of Golf Galaxy and Miniso.
Other mall changes
Stone Haven, a store offering natural stone jewelry, opened in June on the mall’s lower level, near the main entrance.
Shoppers can browse a beautiful selection of natural stones, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings, anklets and other related natural products.
Rally House, the specialty sports store chain offering an expansive selection of apparel, gifts, home decor and other types of merchandise representing local NCAA, NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS teams, opened July 5 in a lower-level mall space near Macy’s.
Customers can shop a large selection of officially licensed team gear and local gifts, including fan favorites like jerseys, hats, drinkware, home decor, collectibles and more.
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, with locations in Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, hosted a ribbon cutting and “First Pour Celebration” on July 12 at the Lehigh Valley Mall's outdoor lifestyle center.
The Whitehall brewery and restaurant, Iron Hill’s 13th location in Pennsylvania and 21st overall, occupies a renovated end unit that previously housed Bravo! Cucina Italiana, which closed in fall 2022.
The new location, with a seating capacity of up to 400, features an on-site, glass-encased brewery and a variety of seating options ranging from cozy banquets to communal high-tops, as well as a large bar throughout the co*cktail area, dining room and patio.
The location also features a Lehigh Valley mural depicting images of Bethlehem’s SteelStacks, Musikfest and the Moravian star against the ubiquitous iron represented on all the brand’s murals as tradition.
Departing the mall in recent weeks is Ardene, a fashion retailer with more than 250 stores worldwide, which closed its only Lehigh Valley store on the mall’s second level in late July.
A “major blowout sale,” featuring 70-80% off all apparel, $2 all footwear, and 10 for $10 all accessories, was held in the weeks leading up to the store’s closure.
An Ardene spokesperson did not return a message seeking comment, including a reason for the closure.
Coming soon to the mall are two other chains – MINISO and Golf Galaxy.
MINISO, a variety store chain that specializes in household and consumer goods including cosmetics, stationery, toys and kitchenware, will open its first Lehigh Valley location later this summer in a lower-level space next to Bath & Body Works, according to DiDuca.
MINISO founder Jack Ye gained inspiration for MINISO while vacationing with his family in Japan in 2013, according to a brand profile.
He came across several specialty stores that stocked “good quality, well designed, and inexpensive products” that were mostly manufactured in China.
With knowledge and experience in product development, supply chain and the fashion industry, Ye established MINISO as a “brand catering to young people around the world,” the online description continues.
MINISO customers can shop a wide variety of goods, including household items such as noodle bowls and energy-saving, mini night lamps; health and beauty products such as moisturizing facial masks and lipstick; fashion accessories such as bath slippers and eye masks; and digital products such as headphones and a “home theater” double-speaker-stereo Bluetooth speaker.
Golf Galaxy, an interactive golf store chain, is targeting late fall for the opening of its new Lehigh Valley Mall store, DiDuca said.
The new location will occupy a renovated outparcel space that previously housed HobbyTown USA and a portion of the former Babies R Us store, DiDuca said.
Golf Galaxy, which opened its first store in 1997, offers “superstore selection and pricing with pro shop knowledge and services,” according to a description on the business’ website.
The company prides itself on its world-class selection of brand name golf equipment, golf apparel, golf accessories, golf technology and golf gifts for golfers of all ages and abilities. The retailer also sellspre-owned golf clubsand offersgolf club trade-ins.
In addition to merchandise, Golf Galaxy offers a comprehensive array of golf services and interactive golf features.
Some of these features include: on-staff PGA and LPGA professionals offering lessons, computer video swing analysis and information about equipment and club fitting; certified club technicians who have the materials and tools to get your clubs regripped and reshafted, adjust your loft and lie, and more; fitting bays where certified fitters use state-of-the-art technology to find the clubs that best suit your swing and game; electronic golf course simulators to test your skills on the world's most famous courses; and indoor driving range and putting greens to test our your clubs.
The Lehigh Valley Mall, which debuted in 1976 and added an outdoor lifestyle center in 2007, is home to more than 140 businesses, including anchor department stores Boscov’s, Macy’s and JCPenney.
Dave & Buster’s, the entertainment and dining chain that invites guests to “eat, drink, play and watch,”recently underwent extensive renovations, including the installation of new furniture, lighting and carpeting.
The space overall is much brighter, with new neon signage and overhead lighting.
Additionally, new social bays - three for digital darts and two for shuffleboard – were installed in former dining space.
Barnes & Noble, an American bookseller with roughly 600 locations nationwide, on May 17 closed its temporary store on the mall’s lower level (near JCPenney) in advance of the grand opening of its renovated store – located in its original lifestyle center space – on June 12.
The new location showcases the highly lauded bookstore design seen in the most recent Barnes & Noble store openings, housing all the best books, toys, games and gifts that customers have come to expect from the nation’s premier bookseller. The bookstore will also house an updated B&N Café.
“We’re very excited to reopen our redesigned Lehigh Valley Mall bookstore,” said James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble.
“Our team has brilliantly managed to complete an entire remodel in under a year, while opening a temporary location within the same mall to ensure our readers were never left without access to their favorite books. As with all our renovated spaces, this beautiful store sets a high bar for brick-and-mortar bookselling. We look forward to finally reopening its doors to our readers.”
Businesses leaving the mall earlier this year or in late 2023 include Otaku House, a store offering anime merchandise; Little TrenzSetters Boutique, a children's clothing store; Pepper Palace, a retail chain selling all-natural hot sauces, barbecue sauces, wing sauces, salsas, seasonings and dry rubs made by hand in small batches; Slime Time, an interactive business allowing children of all ages to make their own slime; and Better Life With Bry, offering natural and handmade body, home and cleaning products along with services that include birthday parties, corporate functions, girls night outs and other events where individuals can create their own bath, body and home products.
Better Life With Bry closed in early January as owner Bryanna Tomkins shifts the business’ focus to parties and entertainment and seeks a new brick-and-mortar space better suited to host such events.
Slime Time owners Patrick Richie and Veronica Santana moved their business – offering sensory activities, bouncy houses, birthday parties and more – to Promenade Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon Township primarily for more space.
