See what's coming to Adventure Crossing, the 'premier Northeast destination for all sports'

JACKSON - Jamba Juice, Starbucks, and Pizza, Pasta & Basta are among the food choices coming soon to Adventure Crossing USA, the $800 million sports and entertainment complex currently under construction on Monmouth Road next to Six Flags Great Adventure.

When complete, Adventure Crossing will feature sports fields dedicated to youth sports; a massive 100,000 square foot dome for Topgolf Swing Suites and a Toptracer indoor driving range and other entertainment; hotels; restaurants; a surfing wave park, Brunswick bowling and a Formula One go-cart track with electric cars.

It's part of an undertaking by developer Vito Cardinale. Cardinale's goal: use his profits from Adventure Crossing to fund a research center on the property to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. His wife, Linda E. Cardinale, died from the disease in 2013.

The center, called the Cardinale Research Center, will be part of a two-building medical campus. One five-story 100,000-square-foot building will be leased by medical practices, rehabilitation services or an urgent care center, among possible uses. The other will house the research center and include labs to fight multiple sclerosis.

"We want this to be the premier northeast destination for all sports," Cardinale told What's Going There at the opening of a 7-Eleven convenience store and fuel station, one of the project's milestones. "Certainly, we're going to need something that's strong to battle. MS, right? Our real goal is to kill MS on this soil."

So, what is on the way?

First, here's what's already there. Popeyes Louisiana Chicken and Taco Bell have opened. 7-Eleven unveiled its 2.0 prototype store in July, a unique location featuring 7-Eleven's latest products and services. Sports teams played on softballs fields this past summer.

Also:Giant warehouses are coming to Jackson. Here's what's likely to happen

What's next? Food, food and more food.

Panda Express, Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Auntie Anne's Pretzels, Pizza, Pasta & Basta, and Carvel Ice Cream will open restaurants in a new retail center under construction next to Taco Bell and Popeyes. The center also will have an inside/outside bar and a total of about 100 outdoor seats, Cardinale said. It is expected to open in the first quarter of 2023.

The building's second floor will have co-working space where people can lease an office, along with a conference room, post office box, and a receptionist.

Fore! At the dome, Topgolf Swing Suites and Toptracer indoor driving range are expected to open in the first quarter as well, along with an ax throwing venture, virtual reality entertainment and a sports bar. A second phase will include laser tag, Brunswick bowling, a 400-seat sports bar, a private cigar and scotch room, and a men's barber and nail salon.

Related:How a 'sleeping giant' grabbed political power in Jackson

The first phase of The Village, a residential and retail complex, will start construction of 158 rental apartments within a year, Cardinale said. A second phase will have restaurants on the first floor with apartments above, he said.

"It's going to be a village where it'll be like Epcot where you come in and every country's food will be served," Cardinale said.

More:Jackson's affordability draws new Latino residents

Hilton Garden Inn, the first of three hotels planned for the property, will begin construction in the first quarter of 2023, Cardinale said.

"We're trying to create that feeling of live work and play, when you could still see a tree line of open space. This may be 300 acres of land that we purchased here, but 100 of it is green" Cardinale said. "We're gonna have walk paths and places for people to stay and enjoy."

David P. Willis, an award-winning business writer, has covered business and consumer news at the Asbury Park Press for more than 20 years. He writes APP.com's What's Going There column and can be reached at dwillis@gannettnj.com. Join his What's Going There page on Facebook for updates.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Adventure Crossing to include Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Topgolf