Mesa's Jake's Unlimited gets $2M makeover under new local owners
What's the deal? Jake's Unlimited, one of the Phoenix area's largest indoor family entertainment venues, has been acquired by local entrepreneurs JP and Brittany Mullan, who plan a $2M overhaul of the nearly 87,000-square-foot Mesa facility. The goal: transform it into a premier destination that can compete with national chains like Dave & BusterDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →'s, Main EventDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Andretti Indoor Karting & Games.
The venue features amusement park rides, 12 lanes of HyperBowling, a two-storey laser tag arena, 130 arcade games, VR attractions, and billiards tables. The Mullans plan to modernise the experience, expand offerings, and elevate guest service.
JP Mullan, a fourth-generation Phoenician, brings over two decades of experience in the family entertainment industry, having held leadership roles at Valley venues including CrackerJax, Octane Raceway, and Mavrix.
Why now? The acquisition is both strategic and personal. The Mullans, parents of three daughters, saw an opportunity to invest in a large-format entertainment venue at a time when experience-driven leisure spending continues to grow. Their long-term strategy includes positioning Jake's Unlimited as a regional draw for group events, celebrations, and corporate gatherings.
"This is more than an acquisition — it's an opportunity to build something that Arizona families can truly call their own," JP Mullan said.
What could go wrong? Competing with well-capitalised national chains is no small feat. Dave & Buster's and Main Event have deep pockets, established brand recognition, and sophisticated loyalty programmes. A $2M renovation budget, while significant for a local operator, is modest compared to what national players spend on new builds and refreshes.
The venue also faces the perennial challenge of the family entertainment sector: keeping attractions fresh enough to drive repeat visits without overextending on capital expenditure.
The signal: With national competitors like Dave & Buster's already at the mature stage and Main Event in late growth, the family entertainment centre market is consolidating around large, well-capitalised operators. The Mullans' bet is that a locally rooted, independently owned venue can carve out defensible market share by trading on community identity and operational agility — a playbook that only works if repeat visit frequency justifies the capital outlay in a segment where novelty fades fast.
Read more: inbusinessphx.com
