The west end of Veterans Memorial Boulevard is seeing a surge of new businesses, including Drew Brees’ latest endeavor, called Surge Entertainment Center.
The northwest corner of Lafreniere Park in Metairie is also now home to a revamped Tacos del Cartel, the new Pickle N Pins and a Chuck E. Cheese, among other restaurants and retail stores. And the new Rumba Caribbean restaurant opened a mile away this spring.
“The entire corridor is experiencing growth, and it’s exciting to see,” Parish Council member Arita Bohanan said in a statement.
Surge held its grand opening May 17, in a new space that is double the size of the former Surge Adventure Park, which was primarily a trampoline park that closed last year. Sky Zone Trampoline Park is located on the north side of Veterans.
The new Surge Entertainment Center offers go-karts, bowling, sports simulators, mini golf, laser tag, and an inflatable bounce house for younger kids.
“This location will be a game-changer for the community,” said Darren Balsamo, co-owner and founder, in a statement announcing the business. “We are committed to providing a premier entertainment experience that caters to all ages, and we can’t wait for everyone to see what we have in store.”
Drew Brees is a partner in the company that also has locations across Louisiana as well as Florida, Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina and Oklahoma City.
Its sister company opened Pickle N Pins in October, just across the parking lot from Surge, with pickleball and lesser known games like padel, duckpin bowling and axe throwing.
Tacos Del Cartel opened earlier this month with a maximalist, Miami-style renovation within walking distance of Surge. And just down Veterans, Rumba opened in March with large indoor and outdoor seating areas and a beach vibe.
Other companies with new facilities nearby include an Ochsner 65 clinic and a Porsche dealership.
The parish is building a new $3 million food pavilion in nearby Lafreniere Park and looking for local food vendors to run it. It’ll include four kitchens, restrooms, covered seating and a stage outside.
Bohanan said the parish also is about to start work on the Soniat Greenway Project, a 12-foot-wide multi-use path with lighting that runs from West Napoleon to Veterans Boulevard along the canal, running behind the businesses on David Drive.