For years, the second story of the old Sears building at Corbin's Corner sat dark while the floor below filled in with new shops and restaurants. That changes on Friday, November 20, when Level99 opens upstairs in the Corbin Collection. The venue covers 43,000 square feet and packs in 50 life-sized games plus Two Roads Kitchen & Tap, a restaurant and bar with 160 seats.

You'll find the way in right beside Crumbl Cookie, where a 785-square-foot lobby leads you up to the second floor. Level99 joins a lineup of neighbors that already includes REI, Saks Off 5th, Shake Shack, Club Pilates, Tavern in the Square and Olive Garden.

A 2017 Policy Built for Exactly This Kind of Space

The groundwork goes back to January 2017, when the West Hartford Town Council voted unanimously to approve Seritage Growth Properties' plan to redevelop the Sears site. The approach preserved the original Sears structure while taking down the additions that came later. In the same year, the council passed an "experiential retail" ordinance aimed at filling large, empty commercial spaces with businesses people come to do something, not just shop.

The ground floor came together piece by piece. Shake Shack moved into the former Sears Auto Center in April 2018, and Tavern in the Square followed on May 31, 2022. This summer, the indoor playground Angel Land opened at 1445 New Britain Avenue in the space buybuy Baby once occupied. The upstairs, though, required something unusual: a single tenant willing to take on more than 41,000 square feet.

The Long Road to Opening Day

From first word to grand opening took roughly two and a half years:

  • May 2024: CT Insider reported that Level99 was eyeing the location, though no lease had been signed.
  • August 5, 2024: The Town Plan and Zoning Commission granted the special permit by a 5-0 vote, and the Town Council approved a Special Development District change covering façade and signage updates.
  • Late August 2024: Level99 signed its lease, and developer First Washington Realty spoke highly of its new tenant.
  • November 2024: The company was aiming for late 2025; founder Matt DuPlessie had earlier pointed to October 2025.
  • February 2026: Construction was moving again after about three months of HVAC setbacks. In March, Economic Development Manager Kristen Gorski said a fall opening was expected.
  • November 20, 2026: Doors open, with tickets released November 6.

All told, the opening arrives about 13 months behind the original goal.

What's Inside

Level99 bills itself as an oversized playground for teens and adults. The West Hartford location features:

  • 44 cooperative Challenge Rooms built for teams of two to six
  • 6 Player-vs-Player Duels
  • An art scavenger hunt featuring more than 30 large-scale pieces
  • Room for as many as 600 players at the same time

The challenges blend physical skill with puzzle-solving. Among the signature games are Axe Run, Ninja Swing and Mansion Banquet. Teams collect Stars and climb a leaderboard, and according to a 2024 Hartford Business Journal report, each room takes between one and four minutes to play.

This is the company's first Connecticut venue and fifth location overall, joining Natick, MA; Providence; Tysons Corner, VA; and Disney Springs, FL. Director of operations Troy Andrian moved from California for the role and now calls West Hartford home.

No Game Ticket Needed to Eat

Two Roads Kitchen & Tap stands on its own, so you can stop in just for food and drinks. It's a 160-seat, counter-service spot built around a three-sided bar, pouring beer from Stratford's Two Roads Brewing Company. Menu highlights include Detroit-style pizza, wagyu burgers, birria tacos and loaded elote guacamole. Plans filed in 2024 called for 250 diners, but the restaurant is opening with 160 seats.

To order alcohol, guests need a valid government-issued photo ID showing they're at least 21. IDs that are expired, cracked, altered or damaged won't be accepted.

Connecticut Artists Among the Installations

We-Ha reports that 25 artists created the venue's artwork. As part of the hunt, players look for hidden objects called Glyphs and enter them at "Hunt Art" kiosks to earn Stars. Five of the artists are from Connecticut:

  • WENT PAINT (Brian Wentworth) of Colchester
  • Kevin Bauccio (The Lock-Mine Kontrol) of Griswold
  • ARCY (Ryan Christianson) of North Haven
  • Micaela Levesque of East Hartford
  • Michael Rice of Hartford

The rest come from Providence (Pneuhaus and Ally Caitlin J.), the Boston area (Blind Fox, Sophy Tuttle and New England Prop Makers), Columbus (muralist Miss Birdy), Atlanta (muralist Thomas Turner) and London (WOSKERSKI).

Tips for Your First Visit

  • Tickets: Starting at $29.99 per player, with two-hour, four-hour and all-day options. A premium upgrade adds quicker check-in and special gifts.
  • Opening-day perk: The first 500 players get a commemorative beanie.
  • Big groups: Parties of 15 or more should book through Level99's events team.
  • Getting in: Use the doors next to Crumbl Cookie and head up to the second floor.

Hours

  • Monday through Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Friday: 11 a.m. to midnight
  • Saturday: 10 a.m. to midnight
  • Sunday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Happy Hour: weekdays, 4 to 6 p.m.

As for parking, town officials told FOX61 they don't expect it to be a big issue, since most of the traffic should come on evenings and weekends.

And if you're planning ahead, the 39th annual West Hartford Holiday Stroll takes place Thursday, December 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. in West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square, with the tree lighting at 5:15 p.m. By then, Level99 will have about two weeks under its belt.

Thinking About West Hartford?

New additions like this are part of what keeps West Hartford such an appealing place to live. If you're curious what your home is worth or you're considering a move in town, reach out and I'd be glad to help.