As the kids get out of school and the Tucson heat returns, it can be a challenge to find things to do with the family around town.
This spring has brought two new entertainment centers just in time for summer in Tucson: Bada Bing Bada Boom and Roadies.
Bada Bing Bada Boom
When you hear the name βBada Bing Bada Boom,β you might first think of βThe Sopranosβ or βThe Godfather.β Elvia Sanchez, the owner of the new entertainment center in South Tucson, thought the same thing when she first asked the kids she takes care of to name her new business.
βThey had a contest for the naming of the place and came up with a lot of names. One of them came up with βBada Bing Bada Boom,ββ Sanchez said. She said the kids, who loved a cartoon character from the movie Ice Age that repeated the phrase throughout the movie, all agreed that the new establishment should be crowned Bada Bing Bada Boom.
Before opening up the entertainment center, Sanchez ran three local My Little Angels Daycare centers for over 30 years.
βI told the kids I was going to do something special for them, because a lot of them lived on the lower income side of town,β she said. βI found out through field trips that the parents canβt afford to take them to things that some of us take for granted, like going bowling or to the movies.β
Now, her daycare kids in South Tucson will be able to enjoy the fun at her new family fun center.
Parker Brown takes a turn on the Super Bikers machine in the full arcade at Bada Bing Bada Boom, 2331 S. Fourth Ave. The arcade still uses real tokens at 25 cents each.
βThis is phase one. Still coming is a water pad for them, a battle of the bands stage for local groups to compete and perform, laser tag, a merry-go-round, bumper cars and more arcade games,β Sanchez said. βItβs going to be just a big park.β
Bada Bing Bada Boom, located on South Fourth Avenue and 34th Street, currently features a food area with items ranging from $7-$18, an arcade still using real tokens at 25 cents each, and a bar, billiards and dance area for the adults.
An Iron Man Hulkbuster armor sculpture stands over the entrance at Bada Bing Bada Boom. The family fun center features a showcase of life-size characters.
The location features a showcase of life-size characters, so that families can pose with superhero favorites Batman and Superman or silly cartoon characters such as the Simpsons or Despicable Me minions.
Carne asada pizza, one of the specialty pies on the menu at Bada Bing Bada Boom.
Typical arcade food choices, such as pizza, wings and hot dogs, can be found on the menu alongside some items with a South Tucson twist, including Sonoran dogs or carne asada pizza.
And as far as the arcade games go, theyβre old school.
βI did everything retro. You can see Pac Man, Tetris, Centipede. You can see all of those old games that the parents my age played,β Sanchez said. βSo, when parents are playing with their kids and saying theyβre going back in time to their teenage years, it makes me happy.β
The location is the only one of its kind in the square-mile city of South Tucson, and Sanchez said sheβs garnered a ton of support from city officials and locals. Sanchez celebrated Bada Bing Bada Boomβs grand opening on May 2 by hosting a ribbon-cutting with the mayor, members of the city council, the city manager and community members.
βI understand the hardship that comes with having a business here in South Tucson,β said South Tucson Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela. βI used to have a hair salon here, and in 2009 during the recession, I felt so alone.β
Valenzuela said she didnβt have much of a business community to fall back on for support, and saw Sanchez going through some of those same struggles.
βI wanted her to know that as a woman, as a Latina, she had some backup,β Valenzuela said.
She said the community has also gotten excited for the new jobs and fun the location brings to the city.
Bada Bing Bada Boom, 2331 S. Fourth Ave., is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays. The location is closed Tuesdays.
Call (520)622-9889 or visit in person for more information.
Roadies
Heading to the arcade or movies and going bowling or axe throwing remain locally popular indoor activities as the weather starts to heat up. What once was a Bed, Bath and Beyond two years ago is now one of Tucsonβs newest entertainment destinations, bringing six different activities to one location.
Roadies, an expansion by Tucson-based RoadHouse Cinemas, features an arcade, bowling lanes, axe throwing, laser tag, βkrazy dartsβ and miniature movie theaters.
βOur Colorado Springs (Roadhouse) location has a Rail Yard, which is a family entertainment center attached to it,β said Roadies general manager Faith Oliver. βWhen this space opened (in Tucson), this was just an opportunity that came along and we took it.β
The 35,000-square-foot location is conveniently on the other side of RoadHouse Cinemas on Grant Road, making the larger movie and dinner experience a three-minute walk. For those wanting a more intimate space, the same movies playing at RoadHouse can be found in the miniature movie theaters at Roadies, which fit about 10-15 people.
The bowling alley uses interactive technology called Spark Augmented Reality Bowling, adding βstunning visuals, immersive animations, and customizable gameplay,β according to the website.
The darts and axe throwing experiences also offer interactive target boards.
A wall of prizes hang waiting for ticket holders to claim at Roadies. The entertainment center includes a bowling alley using interactive technology, and darts and axe throwing experiences that also offer interactive target boards.
βOur Spark Bowling has a ton of different games and themes you can add to your experience,β Oliver said. βThereβs one mode I like on there where you can play against someone and try to knock their person off of the lane.β
According to the website, Spark bowling also offers popular additions of Angry Birds and Boombots to enhance gameplay.
Andres Silva, a first-time patron at Roadies, said he and his friends thought the interior looked unique.
βItβs kind of different from a lot of the other arcade places around town,β Silva said. βIt just looks really cool.β
He said the bowling experience was distinctive, with even his bowling ball looking like an 8-ball. βI liked the designs on them, it was a really enjoyable experience,β he said.
The entertainment center also features a food selection mirroring the menu at Roadhouse, with a bar and seating area near a small stage for live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
βThe kitchen is making all of the food for both sides now,β Oliver said. βItβs still one kitchen.β
She said burgers and pizzas tend to be favorites, but the location also offers fried foods, desserts and buckets of movie theater popcorn.
Makayla Hunt plays the Super Bikes 3 game at Roadies.
Prices tend to rate about average compared to other local locations offering similar activities. Axe throwing tends to run at about $20-25 for 80 minutes; bowling lanes cost about $30-40 an hour; laser tag costs about $9-10 per person per game; and krazy darts cost about $40-50 per lane per hour. All prices vary based on day, time and group size.
Roadies, 4811 E. Grant Road Suite 131, is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Visit the website for more information.
