The building of the former Gorbella supermarket is going to change its appearance. The City of Nice has approved the project by ADM Invest to create a large indoor leisure complex. Bowling, laser tag, and billiards are expected to enliven this new family-friendly venue in Nice-Nord as early as next year, pending approval from the Municipal Council.
The Ray-Gorbella area continues its transformation. After the creation of the eco-neighborhood on the site of the former Ray stadium, the City of Nice is pursuing the requalification of the area with a new leisure project. The building located across from the new eco-neighborhood, once occupied by a supermarket, will be transferred to a private operator to develop a facility dedicated to families.
The call for expressions of interest, launched last July, attracted two applications. One of them was deemed inadmissible. The selection advisory committee, composed of elected officials from both the majority and the opposition, met on Thursday, November 6, to review the remaining application. After hearing from the project proponent, the committee unanimously approved ADM Invest’s proposal.
The company, which already owns four leisure companies in the department, presented a project considered in line with the municipality’s expectations. It plans to develop more than 3,000 m² into a covered leisure center, described as “modern, friendly, and eco-friendly”, according to the municipality’s terms.
The space will gather several activities: a bowling alley designed to reduce energy consumption, a laser tag arena using low-consumption LED systems, and a billiards area designed with sustainable materials. The site will be able to accommodate up to 700 people simultaneously. It will be open seven days a week, with hours adjusted seasonally.
An eagerly awaited facility in Nice-Nord
The transfer of the building, with a total area of 3,200 m², will be subject to the approval of the next Municipal Council. Its sale is expected to reach at least 5.2 million euros. The building, constructed in the 1980s, is owned by the city, which specifies that it “will not participate in the program, design, construction, operation, or financing of the investments related to the creation of this leisure center.”
The municipality’s specifications required activities open to all audiences. “The aim is to create an attractive, intergenerational space suitable for families, outings with friends, and visitors. The purchaser must present a choice of activities suitable for all ages. The venue may also host special events and themed evenings for both children and adults,” the municipality specifies in its call for expressions of interest.
The planned activities cover a wide range: “bowling, laser tag, escape games, arcade games, darts, billiards…” The municipality aims to ensure a diverse and popular offering that is sustainable. The commitments made by the purchaser indeed guarantee a focus on family leisure for at least fifteen years.
Deputy Éric Ciotti, favorable to the initiative, sees it as a response to a local need. “Since the closure [of the bowling alley at Acropolis], hundreds of licensees no longer have a place to train, and many residents of all ages miss a space that was at the heart of their city,” he said in a statement.
The site will benefit from direct access to tram line 1 and a 243-space underground parking lot, managed by the Parcs d’Azur metropolitan authority. These advantages will facilitate the attendance of the future complex, designed for northern Nice families and visiting guests.
If confirmed by the Municipal Council, the project will augment the leisure offer in the metropolis, currently concentrated in other neighborhoods. For Nice-Nord, it represents a new phase in the Ray’s conversion, a symbol of urban renewal initiated since the demolition of the former stadium.
With the announced opening of this future indoor hub, the neighborhood is set to regain lively activity in the evenings and on weekends. A return to community life around an accessible space, designed for all ages and uses.
