Experiential Retail Resurrects Vacant Fort Wayne Supermarket Site

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – November 10, 2026 – The cavernous, empty aisles of a former suburban supermarket are set to be replaced by the echoes of giant indoor slides and air courts. In a transaction that underscores a sweeping national transformation in commercial real estate, Indianapolis-based investment firm SHB Companies has acquired the long-vacant Marsh supermarket building at 7301 Maplecrest Road. The family-owned firm announced today that it has secured Slick City Action Park as the property's new anchor tenant, bringing a dynamic, experiential use to a site that has sat dormant for years.

The acquisition highlights a strategic pivot in how developers are approaching underutilized big-box retail spaces. Instead of waiting for traditional retail tenants that may never materialize, forward-thinking firms are matching vacant properties with experiential entertainment brands that generate renewed economic and social activity. For Fort Wayne, the arrival of northern Indiana's first Slick City location marks a significant milestone in the revitalization of the Maplecrest corridor.

Beyond Groceries: The Rise of Experiential Retail

The story of the Maplecrest Road property is a familiar one in the American suburban landscape. Constructed in 2003, the 69,023-square-foot building originally served as a Marsh Neighborhood Market. However, following the high-profile bankruptcy and subsequent liquidation of the Marsh Supermarkets chain in May 2017, the sprawling facility was left without a purpose. For nearly a decade, the 12.36-acre lot stood as a stark reminder of shifting consumer habits and the vulnerabilities of traditional brick-and-mortar grocery chains.

Yet, the very features that made the site ideal for a supermarket—high visibility, easy accessibility from Interstate 469, and a massive parking footprint—make it an exceptionally attractive target for adaptive reuse. Currently zoned SC-3 Commercial, the property is primed for a transition from retail to entertainment. The 12.36-acre lot offers ample parking, a necessity for a high-volume entertainment center that expects to draw thousands of visitors weekly. Moreover, the high ceilings and open floor plan inherent to big-box grocery store architecture provide the perfect blank canvas for the massive vertical structures required by an indoor slide park.

Industry analysts note that the conversion of vacant grocery and big-box store real estate into experiential entertainment venues is one of the most robust trends in commercial real estate today. Landlords and municipalities are increasingly pivoting toward active entertainment concepts to solve long-term suburban retail vacancies. By offering unique experiences that cannot be replicated online, these venues drive consistent, high-volume consumer foot traffic. This influx of visitors creates a halo effect, benefiting adjacent businesses and injecting vitality back into dormant commercial hubs.

"The adaptive reuse of a nearly 70,000-square-foot facility requires a tenant with a massive footprint and a proven ability to draw crowds from a wide geographic radius," noted one commercial real estate analyst familiar with the northeast Indiana market. "Entertainment concepts like indoor slide parks fit that bill perfectly, effectively turning a neighborhood liability into a regional destination."

A Hometown Homecoming for Snider Alumni

While the transaction reflects macro-level industry shifts, the driving force behind the Maplecrest project is deeply personal. SHB Companies was founded in 2022 by Jeremy Hamilton, a commercial real estate veteran who has worked in the industry since 2009. Both Jeremy and his wife, Megan Matthias Hamilton, are Fort Wayne natives and alumni of nearby Snider High School. Their families maintain deep roots in the community, making the repositioning of the local property a homecoming of sorts.

“Fort Wayne has always been home to us, and having the opportunity to invest here, bring this building back to life and make a positive contribution to this community means a great deal to Megan and me,” said Jeremy Hamilton in a statement regarding the acquisition. “We’re excited about what Slick City will bring to Fort Wayne, and we look forward to seeing it become a place where families and friends can gather and make new memories.”

The transaction was brokered by J.B. Langas of Hanson Langas Realtors and Appraisers, who represented the purchasing firm. Hamilton praised the broker's efforts, noting, “J.B.’s unrelenting tenacity was instrumental in bringing this transaction together. We are grateful for his persistence, dedication and commitment throughout the process.”

The Hamiltons' investment illustrates a growing trend of localized capital deployment, where successful real estate professionals return to their hometowns to execute complex revitalization projects. By leveraging their national industry expertise and local market intuition, developers can often see potential in properties that out-of-state institutional investors might overlook.

Indoor Slide Parks Head North: Expanding the Slick City Footprint

The centerpiece of the redevelopment is Slick City Action Park, a rapidly expanding national entertainment brand headquartered jointly in St. Louis and Nashville. Moving away from the traditional trampoline park model, Slick City focuses on frictionless indoor slide parks, featuring massive, multi-level slides, air courts, swings, and varied attractions designed for all ages.

The company's aggressive growth trajectory is evident in its footprint, with nearly 100 franchise locations currently open or under construction throughout the United States. The Fort Wayne facility will be the brand's first foray into northern Indiana, capturing a critical demographic market in the Midwest.

The arrival of a high-capacity entertainment venue is expected to have a cascading positive economic impact on the immediate neighborhood. The Maplecrest Road commercial corridor, which houses local businesses such as Iron Society Strength & Fitness, Pizza King, and Subway, stands to benefit significantly from the anticipated surge in family-oriented foot traffic. Historically, experiential anchor tenants increase dwell time in shopping centers, leading to higher collateral spending at nearby dining and retail establishments. Local economic development officials frequently cite adaptive reuse projects of this scale as catalysts for broader neighborhood revitalization. When a blighted or vacant anchor property is restored to active use, it often spurs additional investment in surrounding properties, elevating property values and generating increased local tax revenue.

Furthermore, the buildout of a nearly 70,000-square-foot action park will necessitate substantial capital investment in interior renovations, creating local construction jobs in the near term and permanent operational and management positions upon opening. Slick City's franchise model typically requires extensive safety engineering, custom structural installations, and specialized equipment, transforming the former grocery aisles into a highly engineered recreational environment.

As development proceeds, SHB Companies and its new tenant are expected to announce an official opening timeline and specific project milestones. For now, the acquisition signals a definitive end to the property's vacant era, replacing the quiet legacy of a defunct supermarket with the promise of adrenaline, community engagement, and a revitalized commercial corridor in northeast Fort Wayne.