JP Mullan is on a mission.
Three months after acquiring the 87,000-square-foot Jake’s Unlimited in Mesa, he has reimagined the family entertainment center. To start, he replaced broken lights, overhauled the menu, reworked staffing models and spent more time at work than he has at home.
“This is more than an acquisition — it’s an opportunity to build something that Arizona families can truly call their own,” he said.
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Mullan, a fourth‑generation Phoenician with more than 20 years in the family‑entertainment world, lives a mile from Jake’s. He recalled Amazing Jake’s and the next iteration, Jake’s Unlimited, in 2017.
“I walked in and thought, this place isn’t what it was,” he said. “Some of the rides are old, some of the food is outdated, and it just needs love. But it has tremendous bones,” Mullan said.
Mullan has the chops to return Jake’s Unlimited to its former glory. He’s worked at CrackerJax, F1 Race Factory, Octane Raceway and Mavrix. He’s been an unpaid intern, a general manager, a designer of new concepts, and eventually senior director of business strategy for Lucky Strike Corporate.
Jake’s Unlimited is all his. “It’s my first venture into ownership, but I’m a very hands‑on owner,” he said. “I’m here every day. I ask my staff and ask, ‘What do you need?’ And then I make it happen.”
The entertainment center already has the bones: 12 lanes of HyperBowling, a two‑story laser tag arena, 130 arcade games, VR attractions, carnival rides, and a buffet. However, Mullan is investing more than $2 million into upgrades designed to position Jake’s Unlimited alongside national players like Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, Main Event, and Dave & Buster’s. He will install new arcade games and expanded prize offerings, including licensed merchandise and high‑value electronics.
Other improvements include: a new mini‑kart attraction, with a larger, two‑story electric karting experience and updated food and beverage offerings. Some kitchen equipment hadn’t been replaced in years. The online birthday‑party booking system needed modernization.
To reintroduce the venue, Jake’s Unlimited is offering $19.95 unlimited passes exclusively online through July 31. Mullan calls it a “value‑driven experience” designed for families navigating a tough economy.
He will launch sensory‑friendly Saturday mornings, starting June 13. The idea came from community comments on social media.
“We’re asking people what they want,” he said. “Updated food, cleanliness, inclusivity. We’re listening.”
Co-owner Brittany Mullan added, “We live here, we’re raising our family here, and we’re committed to building a place where other families can celebrate, connect and create lasting memories.”
