New Roc City Exceeds Expectations for Grand Opening Weekend

More than 30,000 Visit New Rochelle Entertainment Center

New Rochelle, NY (October 1999) More than 30,000 people visited New Roc City during its Grand Opening Weekend, September 24 through 26, exceeding the expectations by both the developers and the tenants of the new $190 million entertainment center in New Rochelle, NY.

"We were surprised and delighted by the huge crowds we saw during our Grand Opening Weekend," said Jeff Castaldo, Director of Real Estate for New Roc City. "Opening weekend attendance went well beyond what we had expected and added to our confidence that New Roc City is going to be a major success."

Mr. Castaldo said that despite the large crowds throughout the weekend, the complex operated smoothly. "We were prepared for the crowds, and that advance work paid off. We had extra security and parking staff on hand, and even though it was our first weekend, it came off without any major glitches. The customers seemed excited and happy, and that's what you want."

He added that interest in New Roc built over the summer as the project neared completion. "There was a lot of serious interest as well as just plain curiosity, not only locally in New Rochelle, but throughout the region, so that when the doors opened, the crowds were here. It was a very exciting environment. It was really great."

The Grand Opening Weekend followed the official ribbon-cutting ceremony that was held earlier last week. The ceremony was attended by Governor George Pataki, Chairman Charles Gargano, of the Empire State Development Corp., Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, New Rochelle Mayor Timothy Idoni and numerous other government and business leaders.

New Roc City, developed by New Roc Associates, L.P. and Cappelli Enterprises Inc., includes: Westchester County's only giant-screen IMAX Theater; an 18-screen Regal Cinemas megaplex; Sports Plus family entertainment center with two ice skating rinks; the Huguenot Tower Space Shot ride; Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar; Chevys Fresh Mex Restaurant; Authentic Caf6 Featuring Breyers Ice Cream; Bally Total Fitness Center; Super Stop & Shop supermarket; a 120-room Marriott Residence Inn; and a 125,000-square-foot Class A office building.

With its location directly off Exit 16 of the New England Thruway (1-95), New Roc City is within easy driving range of the entire New York Metropolitan area. It is expected to draw more than five million visitors in its first year.

Representatives for Regal Cinemas and Sports Plus also saw crowds in the thousands, while both Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar and Chevys reported waiting times of up to 90 minutes for their restaurants . "New Roc City is the centerpiece of our city's efforts to bring vibrancy into our downtown area. The center is a visible symbol of our city's prosperous future that will help us to attract additional investments," said Mayor Idoni.

Bally's Total Fitness is expected to open by October 15 th , and the Residence Inn by Marriott is scheduled to open on November 1" , 1999.

Developed by Cappelli Enterprises Inc. of Valhalla, New York, New Roc City is the only facility of its kind in the Northeast. Built on the former Macy's and New Rochelle Mall site, New Roc City is the cornerstone of the revitalization of downtown New Rochelle.