Old Base Factory to bring food hall, arcade near O’Fallon Family Sports Park
Construction is now underway at the Old Base Factory food hall, with plans to open in late summer near the O’Fallon Family Sports Park.
Eric Wallace said they expect to roll out vendor announcements and partnerships in phases over the coming weeks.
Food options are expected to include barbecue, craft burgers, chicken, New York-style pizza, Mexican cuisine, juices and smoothies, desserts, ice cream and coffee.
They are finalizing vendor agreements and expect to share a full lineup soon.
“We are currently in conversations with several well-known local operators. Our focus has been on building a strong mix of local concepts that bring both variety and quality to the space,” Wallace said.
“While there are still some moving pieces as we finalize vendors and buildout, things are progressing. We are excited to move into this next phase.”
The goal is to offer a unique experience that can accommodate large groups and sports teams.
“We hope it’s a special place our community will be proud to show off to the visitors to our town and a convenient place for visitors to the park to enjoy,” he said.
They are converting a former tool-and-die shop — a 12,000-square-foot building on 2.5 acres — into the food hall. It will be located at the park’s east entrance at 230 Oberneufemann Road.
Wallace and his brother, Mike Wallace, have repurposed the Velocity Metalworks Industrial building, which produced every Major League Baseball base frame for Rawlings for nearly 30 years.
“We are carrying that history forward,” he noted.
Construction is now underway at the Old Base Factory food hall, with plans to open in late summer near the O’Fallon Family Sports Park.
Eric Wallace said they expect to roll out vendor announcements and partnerships in phases over the coming weeks.
Food options are expected to include barbecue, craft burgers, chicken, New York-style pizza, Mexican cuisine, juices and smoothies, desserts, ice cream and coffee.
They are finalizing vendor agreements and expect to share a full lineup soon.
“We are currently in conversations with several well-known local operators. Our focus has been on building a strong mix of local concepts that bring both variety and quality to the space,” Wallace said.
“While there are still some moving pieces as we finalize vendors and buildout, things are progressing. We are excited to move into this next phase.”
The goal is to offer a unique experience that can accommodate large groups and sports teams.
“We hope it’s a special place our community will be proud to show off to the visitors to our town and a convenient place for visitors to the park to enjoy,” he said.
They are converting a former tool-and-die shop — a 12,000-square-foot building on 2.5 acres — into the food hall. It will be located at the park’s east entrance at 230 Oberneufemann Road.
Wallace and his brother, Mike Wallace, have repurposed the Velocity Metalworks Industrial building, which produced every Major League Baseball base frame for Rawlings for nearly 30 years.
“We are carrying that history forward,” he noted.
The space is designed to offer more than just food, with indoor and outdoor seating, a large bar, seating for groups of all sizes, gathering areas, entertainment elements and flexible event space built for families, teams and groups, he said.
They plan an arcade, yard games and multiple TVs for watching games. Whether it’s a quick bite or people want to sit and stay awhile, the food hall is designed for both.
“It is built to offer more than just a place to eat. Kids can move, play, and explore, while parents can relax, connect, and enjoy a great meal,” he said.
The overall vision remains consistent, but as the project has progressed, there has been an even stronger focus on local partnerships and community integration, he added.
“We are working closely with the city, O’Fallon parks and recreation, O’Fallon tourism, and local downtown businesses to make sure this becomes a destination that reflects and supports the community,” Wallace said.
The Wallace brothers are also exploring how the space can support local entrepreneurs by providing opportunities to test and grow their concepts.
They have launched a landing page to begin sharing information with the public, including updates, vendor announcements and a closer look at what Old Base Factory will offer. It is available at www.oldbasefactory.com.
Hours of operation will be 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and outdoor music is not allowed.
Food Is Love Partnership
The Wallace brothers are partnering with John Michel’s Food Is Love initiative, which will allow them to support local entrepreneurs through short-term vendor opportunities while also participating in community-driven programs such as Currency of Caring.
The Currency of Caring program allows individuals and organizations to pre-fund meals for those in need through a “Feed It Forward” model. Old Base Factory plans to offer a “round-up” option for guests who want to contribute.
The innovative Currency of Caring program addresses food insecurity through a meal program. People can purchase tokens for $8, which can be shared or donated and used at participating local restaurants.
Michel, a former fighter pilot who retired as a U.S. Air Force brigadier general, started Soulcial Kitchen in Swansea as the first Metro East food truck park in 2021 and has since opened The Flock food truck park in downtown Alton.