Former Sears stores in west suburbs are transitioning into entertainment venues, offering movie enthusiasts and gamers immersive experiences. The anticipated Sony Wonderverse, an indoor entertainment park at Oakbrook Center, is slated for a soft opening in December, with a grand opening planned for January 2024. Based on popular films like "Ghostbusters" and "Zombieland," the theme park occupies a sprawling 45,000-square-foot retail space at the former Sears site, according to the Chicago Tribune.

"Imagine stepping into the screen, if you will," said Jeffrey Godsick, head of location-based entertainment at Sony Pictures. The theme park will house both permanent and pop-up attractions, including virtual reality quests, escape rooms, and arcade games. A full-service restaurant and bar, a "Ghostbusters" themed speakeasy, and pay-for-play attractions priced between $10 and $35 will also be featured at the venue. reports the Chicago Tribune.

Besides exclusive retail offerings, Sony envisions the Oakbrook Center as a pilot for prospective Wonderverse outlets locally and overseas. "First we open this one, we learn, and then begin to unveil Wonderverse globally," Godsick explained.

The announcement for Wonderverse on Oakbrook Center's website describes the venue as "a world of immersive adventures," enticing potential visitors to "discover wonder and curiosity." A November JLL report highlighted that these experiential outlets account for about 15% of all retail leasing activity this past year.

Tim Geiges, senior general manager of Oakbrook Center, echoed the sentiment, predicting that Sony's Wonderverse will attract a diverse audience owing to its innovative concept. Industry leaders and analysts are likely to watch the performance of this experimental retail venture closely.

Experiential offerings like Sony's Wonderverse have bolstered Oakbrook Center's tenant demand. The second-largest shopping complex in Chicago, Oakbrook Center boasts over 2.5 million square feet of leaseable retail space. The mall, home to major retailers like Macy's, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom, has warmly embraced the experiential retail trend, with the recent arrival of new tenants like Puttshack, Escape The Room, Immersive Gamebox, and Sandbox VR, as detailed by the Chicago Tribune.

In the ever-transforming retail sector, the success of initiatives like Sony's Wonderverse could hint toward the industry's future trajectory. As experiential ventures take up a larger portion of retail portfolios, a careful watch on their progress could be critical for the future of this burgeoning business model.