Pokémon Go Being Embraced By Leesburg Businesses To Draw Crowds

Leesburg, Virginia – Village at Leesburg hosted its first Pokémon Go Walk in Leesburg on Thursday, July 21. While other regions, such as businesses in Richmond have tired to capitalize on the Pokémon Go craze, this is believed to be the first instance of a local retail center using the game to draw customers in Northern Virginia. Several hundred people turned out for the four-hour event, coming for the Pokémon, but enjoying the shopping and dining specials too.

Village at Leesburg offered a Village “Pokémap” highlighting the six Pokéstops, two Gyms, and 15 businesses offering special deals during the event. Players were given red, blue and yellow glow bracelets to identify which team they belonged to in the game. As battles raged to control the Village’s two gyms, team members could be seen cheering each other on. Some businesses and players set up lures over the Pokéstops, drawing more Pokémon and more people to those locations during the event.

Village at Leesburg’s Director of Marketing Staci Harris notes the wide range of ages that attended the event, “This game isn’t geared towards a certain age group, there were 20 and 30-somethings running around with the wristbands. Even parents walking their children around were playing the game alongside everyone!” she described. The event also featured music, games, and Smokehouse Live served three drinks based on the Pokémon Go teams: Valor Juice, Mystic Rita and the PokémonTini. Considered a success for a first endeavor, the Village hopes to host a similar event in the future if Pokémon Go continues to be an age-defying hit.

Village at Leesburg is located along Route 7 at the Crosstrail Boulevard/River Creek Parkway exit in Leesburg, Va. It includes a roster of more than 75 national, regional and boutique retail shops and restaurants such as Wegmans Food Market, Smokehouse Live, Cobb Village 12 Cinemas, LA Fitness, King Pinz Bowling, Ten Spot Kitchen & Tap, Ulta, Orvis, Firebirds, Sweet & Sassy and Travinia Italian Kitchen. Other attractions include its popular pop up water fountain, bubbles shows and fire & water fountain. Rappaport provides property management, marketing services, asset management and oversees leasing for the Village at Leesburg.