They want to bring 4D movies and go-karts to Belleville’s The EDGE

The EDGE in Belleville wants to ramp up your movie theater experience by offering a 4D theater.

The new theater, an indoor track for 14 electric-powered go-karts, bumper cars, four bowling lanes, a banquet room and 90 new parking spots would be included in The EDGE’s proposed $3.36 million expansion and remodeling of the current building. The renovation of the current bar will feature a 14-foot by 8-foot screen to watch sports.

In the 4D theater, the seats and floor will move in sync the action on the screen. Moviegoers will be sprayed with water and if there are snakes in the grass, they’ll feel a sensation around the back of their legs. Wind and smells also will be featured. But these shows will only be for seven- to eight-minute movies and not for feature length movies.

“They are actually more like a ride. Most of the places that have these are really, really large theme parks,” Keith Schell said about 4D theaters. Schell, who owns The EDGE with his wife, Mary Dahm-Schell, said The EDGE will start with a library of six movies.

To help get The EDGE project off the ground, the business is seeking an estimated $201,105 in tax incentives.

Here’s a breakdown of the proposed tax incentives:

▪  An exemption from state sales tax on construction materials purchased for the expansion and remodeling project at 701 South Belt West. This could save The EDGE an estimated $152,685, according to a draft redevelopment agreement. If the city certifies that the business is located in the city’s enterprise zone, The EDGE would qualify for this tax break.

▪  A 50 percent rebate on incremental property taxes directly related to the improvements for five years. This could save The EDGE up to $9,684 annually for a total of $48,420.

In exchange for the tax breaks, The EDGE would be required to invest at least $3.36 million, retain the 45 jobs the business currently supports, create 10 additional jobs within the first year of the expansion and three more jobs in the second year of operation and commit to annual sales subject to sales tax of at least $600,000.

The city’s Economic Development and Annexation Committee on Wednesday unanimously recommended the city accept the proposed development agreement. On Monday, the city’s Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on the plan and the full city council is expected to consider it on Aug. 15.

“It’s great for the city because it’s going to bring a lot more people in,” Eric Schauster said of the project. Schauster is the assistant director of Economic Development, Planning & Zoning for the city and has been working with The EDGE on the proposed development agreement.

“It’s going to help them with their capacity because they’re packed every weekend and part of this is parking expansion, which is going to help them help their current business.”

Schauster said The EDGE currently has 45,000 square feet under roof and the new building, which would be metal with a stucco finish, would be 33,500 square feet. The business has bought adjacent property for the expansion and two homes will be demolished.

Schell said the new building is expected to be finished early next year and the business will remain open during the renovation and construction.

The EDGE, which is an acronym for “Eats, Drinks, Games, Entertainment,” finished a $3 million addition and remodeling project in 2012.

At that time, The EDGE opened five new movie theaters, including two “movie bistros,” where customers sit in leather reclining chairs and can order food and drinks from The EDGE’s bar and restaurant.

The EDGE already has a 14,000-square-foot laser tag arena.

Schell said his research shows that when the new expansion is finished, The EDGE will be the only U.S.-based business with this array of entertainment under one roof.

Dahm-Schell said adding the go-cart track to complement the laser tag arena will give The EDGE two major attractions.

“Go-karts are really popular around the country,” Dahm-Schell said. “We kind of think of it like a mall where you have your anchor stores ... and then you have some smaller shops.”

This story was originally published August 4, 2016 at 9:26 AM with the headline "They want to bring 4D movies and go-karts to Belleville’s The EDGE."