Parents heading to Monkey Rock Entertainment Center at The Shoppes at Solana on El Paso’s west side this week found a surprise that was anything but fun: a closed gate, dark interior, and a legal notice taped to the entrance. The popular hangout, home to bowling, arcade games, and VR bays, was abruptly locked up with no posted timeline for when, or if, it might reopen. The sudden shutdown has left families and nearby businesses wondering what happens next to a space that had become a regular stop for play dates, parties, and rainy-day energy burn-offs.
Landlord Posts 'Breach Of Lease' Notice
A notice attached to Monkey Rock’s locked entrance states that Elm Creek Real Estate LLC has excluded Family Fun Factor LLC from the leased premises for a “breach of lease.” According to the notice, access will be restored only after outstanding rent and late fees are paid, and it lists a lease date of April 1, 2021. The posting, which quickly made the rounds on local social media, was also detailed by the El Paso Times.
What Was Inside Monkey Rock
Monkey Rock, which opened in October 2022, marketed itself as a one-stop family entertainment hub. Inside were 10 bowling lanes, mini golf, a rock-climbing wall, an arcade, and virtual-reality golf and swing bays. The venue also sold “park hopper” tickets that combined two hours at Monkey Rock with a full-day pass to the neighboring aquarium, as described on the Monkey Rock website.
Same Owner Behind Jungle Reef Aquarium
The entertainment center is linked to the same family group that operates Jungle Reef Touch Aquarium next door, and the two attractions were promoted as a package deal for west-side families. Jungle Reef’s site and local coverage have framed the aquarium and Monkey Rock as companion stops for school outings and birthday celebrations, according to Jungle Reef.
Setback For A Mall Revitalization Push
Monkey Rock sits inside the former Sears building at what used to be Sunland Park Mall. Property owner Enoch Kimmelman, who bought the mall and rebranded it as The Shoppes at Solana in 2023, has been working to draw in new retail and entertainment concepts to revive the complex, as reported by KVIA. In a statement to the El Paso Times, Kimmelman noted that the entertainment space is part of the former anchor footprint and that anchor parcels at the property are owned separately.
What Locals Are Saying
Once photos of the posted notice hit local message boards and social feeds, speculation kicked in fast. Online commenters have zeroed in on the reference to unpaid rent and debated how long entertainment spots can last at The Shoppes at Solana. On r/ElPaso, users, including patrons and people who identified themselves as former employee,s talked about finding the gate locked and weighed in on whether Monkey Rock is gone for good, as seen on Reddit.
Next Steps
The landlord’s notice outlines what the tenant would need to do to regain access to the space, but does not indicate whether a formal eviction case has been filed. There is no public reopening date, and it is not yet clear whether the operators will resolve the alleged lease default or whether the landlord will look to lease the space to a new tenant.
Legal note
The posted notice is the first public document in the dispute between the landlord and tenant. Any future court filings or settlement documents would clarify whether the current lockout turns into a formal eviction process. For now, the notice on the gate and the social media posts circulating it are the primary public records of the disagreement.
