It’s been less than three weeks since The GAB Spot opened its doors at the corner of Racetrack Road and Beal Parkway, and the 20,000-square-foot family entertainment venue is already becoming what many locals say the area has needed for years.

• The venue, which opened May 4 inside the former Goodwill building at the Shops at Wright Plaza, combines eight full-size bowling lanes, six duckpin bowling lanes, five gamified axe throwing lanes, more than 40 arcade games, a full-service restaurant and bar, and locally sourced gelato from GS Gelato.

“The thing we hear the most is, ‘This is something this town has needed,'” said manager Michelle Corrigan. “And it actually gives me goosebumps, brcause it’s cool to be able to give that back to the community.”

The concept comes from owner Jason Nieves, a retired Air Force vascular surgeon who spent 24 years in the military. Nieves first trained at Hurlburt Field in 2001 before returning to the area in 2017 for his final assignment at Eglin Air Force Base. After retiring, he set out to create a one-stop destination where families could eat, play and stay entertained without having to drive all over town.

Corrigan said the early response has been strong. Evenings have been particularly busy, with crowds picking up around 7 or 8 p.m. and staying until close. The venue is open until midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

With Memorial Day weekend approaching and schools letting out for summer, Corrigan said the team is preparing for a significant jump in traffic.

• “Our first weekend was really amazing and I’m anticipating that’s what it’s going to be like throughout the summer,” she said. “I’m also watching the weather, because when it rains, we are looking forward to having families here.”

When guests walk in, a hostess greets them and walks them through the layout. Bowling, duckpin and axe throwing are booked by the hour at the front desk. Servers are stationed at all the lanes and throwing areas, bringing food and drinks directly so customers never have to leave their activity.

The venue’s card system has been a hit with families. Customers can load money onto a card at a kiosk and use it throughout the entire venue — arcade games, food, drinks and more. A $100 card purchase comes with bonus points that can be used in the arcade, giving customers additional value.

“It’s a win-win,” Corrigan said. “You can do everything for the family on one card.”

The setup has been particularly useful for parents. Kids can carry their own cards and independently buy food or play games without having to track down mom or dad for cash.

Among the attractions, duckpin bowling has emerged as the most popular. The shorter lanes use a smaller, six-pound ball, and players don’t need special bowling shoes. Interactive features allow bowlers to choose from games like Angry Birds or take photos that pop up on the screen with each roll, with more options on the way.

The axe throwing lanes feature gamified technology that projects targets and games onto the wall, including zombie-themed challenges and dart-style games. The lanes are available for guests 14 and older.

The full-service restaurant offers a menu of shareables, smash burgers, handhelds, flatbreads and desserts. Highlights include firecracker shrimp with garlic chili sauce, a Sonoran hot dog on bolillo bread, seven flatbread varieties including Nashville hot chicken with hot honey drizzle, and desserts like churro donuts and key lime pie. The bar carries a full liquor license.

• The GAB Spot is also booking birthday parties, limiting them to manage capacity, and offering full venue buyouts for private events. An events coordinator handles group bookings.

Looking ahead, the venue is pursuing sensory certification to create a more inclusive environment for children with autism and sensory sensitivities. The program will include resources like headphones and other accommodations, but no official timeline on that yet. Corrigan said the team is also exploring partnerships with local organizations like Children in Crisis to bring kids in for activities.

The venue sits inside the Shops at Wright Plaza, a shopping center with deep roots in Fort Walton Beach. Plaza owner Mitzi Henley said the center celebrated its 65th anniversary last year. Her parents purchased part of the property in 1961, and it has grown from 5,000 square feet to more than 51,000 square feet.

“It’s just been really an honor to be in the heart of Fort Walton Beach, right here at the corner of Racetrack and Beal, and grow with the community,” Henley said.

The plaza is home to a mix of franchise and independent businesses, including Main Brew Coffee, Sport Clips, Tom Cat Designs, FastSigns, Waffle House, a Hertz rental car location, and much more. The property sees more than 50,000 cars pass by daily, a traffic count Henley said is second only to Destin in the area.

When Goodwill, which had been the plaza’s number one store on the Gulf Coast, was looking to grow into a larger space, the timing aligned with the Big Lots closure nearby. That opened up the 20,000-square-foot space for The GAB Spot.

“This Goodwill store was the number one store in the Gulf Coast,” Henley said. “Our community was so good to Goodwill, and they really wanted to grow, and Jason wanted an opportunity. So with the Big Lots closing, it just all started falling into place.”

Henley said she recognized early on that Nieves’ military background gave him a clear understanding of what local families — especially military families — were looking for.

• “I’m an honorary commander, so I understand when I’m around a lot of the military, they really are looking for something to do,” Henley said. “They work very hard. When they’re home with their families, they really want some fun stuff to do, and I think Jason really saw that during his service.”

Henley has continued to reinvest in the plaza, with improvements including new paving, updated signage and the addition of a Florida Power & Light electric vehicle charging station. She said the property also has two acres to the east available for future development.

“We’ve always been reinvesting in this property,” Henley said. “And that’s why we just want more opportunities for other independent-owners to build their dreams, and we’re here to try to do that with them.”

The early buzz around The GAB Spot has resonated throughout the community. Henley said a longtime friend told her last week that the venue is “the best thing to happen to Fort Walton Beach.”

“We want to bring good opportunities for everyone,” Henley said. “And they employ quite a few people here, too.”The GAB Spot is open daily. For more information, visit the venue’s website.