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Nebraska Furniture Mart

Cosm to Unveil Second Venue at Berkshire Hathaway’s Grandscape in Texas

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Cosm, the trailblazing experiential media and immersive technology company, is set to establish its second public entertainment venue at Berkshire Hathaway’s Grandscape in The Colony, Texas.

The announcement comes as part of Cosm’s strategic expansion plans to create a new realm of immersive entertainment known as “shared reality.”

Cosm, founded in 2020 by Mirasol Capital in Dallas, seamlessly blends state-of-the-art technology with physical experiences. The company has strategically acquired businesses in spatial computing, specialty design, engineering, and immersive video production to revolutionize the entertainment landscape.

Under the leadership of CEO Jeb Terry, Cosm has been instrumental in shaping a new category of immersive entertainment. The concept of ‘shared reality’ involves collaborating with global partners to stream live content to physical venues and virtual worlds alike, transcending traditional boundaries.

The decision to establish a venue in North Texas aligns with Cosm’s roots in Dallas and CEO Jeb Terry’s personal connection to the area. The company sees North Texas as a pivotal anchor for its business growth, aiming to contribute to the explosive development in the region.

The venue at Grandscape, one of the largest mixed-use real estate developments in the country, spanning over 400 acres, is poised to become a focal point for immersive experiences. Positioned at the heart of Grandscape’s entertainment area, Cosm’s venue will be strategically located near the popular outdoor stage and lawn.

Grandscape, a Berkshire Hathaway project, is an exceptional outdoor entertainment, dining, and shopping destination in North Texas. Recognized with the 2021 RLI International Award for Most Innovative Entertainment & Retail Project, Grandscape features a unique blend of retail, entertainment, residential spaces, dining options, and attractions.

Cosm’s second venue, designed by Dallas-based architects HKS, promises to be a technological marvel. Equipped with proprietary, best-in-class technology, guests will encounter immersive content across various programming categories, including live sports, entertainment, experiential events, immersive art, and music.

Cosm and TNT Sports are teaming up to bring premium live TNT Sports content to Cosm venues in immersive 8K+ starting in 2024, marking the first time a broadcast rightsholder will present live sports content in Shared Reality. Cosm venues will host a number of premium events throughout the TNT Sports calendar, including select including select NBA on TNT regular season and playoff games (along with TNT’s exclusive coverage of the NBA’s Eastern or Western Conference Finals each year), TNT’s coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and select U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Team matches.

Mark A. Williams, FAIA, and Global Director of Venues for HKS express excitement about the partnership, highlighting the evolution in fan experience through fully immersive virtual environments. This aligns with Cosm’s commitment to providing unparalleled content and embedding consumers into events without the need for physical travel.

Earlier this year, Cosm unveiled plans for its first public venue in Los Angeles, California, adjacent to SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome, marking another significant milestone in the company’s expansion.

The forthcoming Grandscape venue adds another layer to Cosm’s mission, promising a one-of-a-kind immersive experience that merges the virtual and physical realms.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Nebraska Furniture Mart

Berkshire Hathaway’s Grandscape Unveils Interactive Great Big Game Show

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In North Dallas, Berkshire Hathaway’s Grandscape is transforming into a hub of entertainment, and its latest addition, the Great Big Game Show, promises an immersive experience that will have its participants feeling like TV game show stars.

Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth development that includes Berkshire’s Nebraska Furniture Mart, on the sprawling 433-acre Grandscape, this real-life, interactive game show invites participants to become contestants in a thrilling competition.

Picture two teams battling it out on a fully decked-out sound stage adorned with dazzling lights, energizing music, and a colossal wheel reminiscent of beloved game shows. The lively atmosphere is further enhanced by the presence of a live host, guiding participants through rounds of trivia, chance, and challenges. What sets Great Big Game Show apart is that it offers all the excitement of a televised game show without the pressure of a global audience; it’s an exclusive experience shared only with your family, friends, or co-workers.

Grandscape’s commitment to providing unparalleled entertainment experiences doesn’t stop there. The 433-acre property continues to evolve with the addition of entertainment and resort-like venues. It already includes Galaxy Theatres, Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, Sixes Social Cricket, The Escape Game, Immersive Gamebox, and the 200-foot observation wheel, the Grandscape Wheel.

Additional entertainment venues planned for 2024, include golf-themed PopStroke, an experiential golf and casual dining concept, and Fritz’s Adventure, an indoor and outdoor family attraction where visitors of all ages and abilities can climb, tunnel, jump, run, slide, rappel, and zip through more than 100,000 square feet of explorable space.

If meditative relaxation is more your style, WorldSprings, a nine-acre haven is currently under construction. This ambitious venture aims to blur the lines between a wellness spa and an amusement park, promising visitors an extraordinary blend of relaxation and excitement. Scheduled to open its doors in spring 2024, WorldSprings is set to redefine the concept of leisure, offering a unique and refreshing escape for all who venture into its boundaries.

As Grandscape evolves into a multifaceted destination, the combination of the Great Big Game Show and the upcoming WorldSprings project underscores its commitment to delivering diverse and unforgettable experiences for visitors of all ages. With these additions, Grandscape solidifies its position as a must-visit destination, providing a perfect blend of entertainment, leisure, and innovation.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Nebraska Furniture Mart

Just Add Water: Berkshire’s Grandscape to Add WorldSprings Complex

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Nestled in the heart of Berkshire Hathaway’s Grandscape, near the vibrant city of Dallas, a remarkable transformation is currently underway. Come spring 2024, the Lone Star State will play host to an awe-inspiring creation that defies convention — WorldSprings, a nine-acre haven that blurs the boundaries between wellness spa and amusement park. It’s a venture poised to revolutionize the Texan landscape.

WorldSprings is on the cusp of marking its Texan debut, promising to be the largest outdoor mineral springs experience of its kind in the entire United States. A veritable Eden for wellness enthusiasts.

Described as “a sanctuary for the soul,” this extraordinary expanse will boast 45 outdoor soaking pools, each with its own unique inspiration from renowned hot springs across the globe. A mesmerizing mosaic of cold-plunge pools, Finnish saunas, and a sumptuous spa, WorldSprings is designed for indulgence and rejuvenation.

Here are the highlights that await:

The Family Pool: A gathering place for all generations, where the young and young at heart can revel in the mineral-infused waters.

Dead Sea Float Pool and South Pacific Region Mineral Pools: A taste of the exotic, offering a timeless journey through the world’s most celebrated mineral-rich waters.

The Asiatic, European, and Americas Region Mineral Pools: Reserved for those 18 and older, these pools promise a sophisticated, adults-only retreat.

The Spa: A realm of pampering, it boasts a menu brimming with body treatments and massages to soothe the weariest of souls.

The Sanctuary: A hallowed ground for spiritual wellness, it hosts sound baths, yoga sessions, breathwork, and guided meditation classes.

Aqua Classes: Dive into aqua aerobics, sculpting, yoga, and floating sessions in the therapeutic waters.

Performance-Enhancing Treatments: Embark on an extraordinary journey of recovery with cryotherapy, hyperbaric chambers, and compression therapy.

WorldSprings Café: A tech-savvy solution for poolside dining, where guests can order delicacies and libations with a mere tap on their smartphones.

Guided by the expertise of their in-house functional medicine practitioner, Dr. Sara Gottfried, WorldSprings promises meticulously crafted pools that replicate the mineral composition of renowned springs worldwide. It’s a testament to the dedication to authenticity and quality that defines this one-of-a-kind venture.

As for access, WorldSprings is intent on inclusivity. Memberships and three-hour passes will be offered, tailored to ensure everyone can partake in this weekly ritual of well-being. While the pricing remains a closely guarded secret, a select few can avail of discounted Founding Memberships starting early next year.

Rob Kramer, the managing partner of WorldSprings’ owner, Off Road Capital, envisions a future where wellness is accessible to all. He expresses his ambition, stating, “Our ambition is that WorldSprings will democratize wellness by opening locations throughout the country.”
WorldSprings’ journey began in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and a similar concept found its roots in La Verkin, Utah, near the majestic Zion National Park. Now, Texas awaits its turn.

Mark your calendars, for the grand opening of WorldSprings Grandscape is set for March 2024. It will be located at 3240 Plano Pkwy., within the sprawling 433-acre Grandscape complex, which is the home of Berkshire’s largest of its mega-store Nebraska Furniture Marts and boasts not just shopping and dining, but also an escape room, immersive entertainment venues, an amphitheater, and much more.

In the words of Justin Foley, the general manager of the upcoming Grandscape location, “Bringing WorldSprings to this ideal location is a remarkable milestone.” Indeed, it is a milestone that promises to redefine the Texan landscape, offering a unique fusion of wellness and amusement that’s set to captivate the hearts and minds of all who venture within its embrace.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Nebraska Furniture Mart

Berkshire’s Austin Development Receives Zoning Approval

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Berkshire Hathaway’s Nebraska Furniture Mart has won key zoning approval for its new Austin development. NFM is set to build a retail, hotel, and convention center in Cedar Park, a town located 16 miles north-west of Austin.

The Cedar Park City Council unanimously approved the rezoning of the 118-acre parcel, with construction anticipated to begin in 2024.

The development will comprise a 250-room hotel with a 30,000-square-foot convention center, 250,000 square feet of commercial space, a 500,000-square-foot NFM store, and a 700,000-square-foot warehouse servicing NFM.

The city of Cedar Park has offered $45 million in performance-based rebates if Berkshire invests $400 million and creates 725 jobs in the first year of operation. NFM’s CEO Tony Bolt chose Cedar Park after searching for a second Texas location, and it will complement NFM’s Grandscape development in Dallas-Fort Worth.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Nebraska Furniture Mart

Berkshire to Build Second NFM Store in Texas

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Berkshire Hathaway is doubling-down on its mega-store strategy in Texas. Berkshire’s NFM (formerly Nebraska Furniture Mart) will build a second store located 200 miles from its Grandscape development located in The Colony in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The new store will be located in Cedar Park, a town that is 16 miles to the north-west of Austin.

While Berkshire’s plans are big, they are not the scale of its 433 acre Grandscape development.

The Cedar Park Development will feature a 250-room, full-service hotel that includes a 30,000-square-foot, city-owned convention center; a 250,000 square feet of commercial development; a 500,000-square-foot NFM store; and a 700,000-square-foot warehouse servicing NFM.

NFM’s CEO Tony Bolt began searching for a second Texas location in 2019, and finally settled on Cedar Park, which at roughly 200 miles from its Grandscape development in The Colony in Dallas-Fort Worth as to not pull away any business, but close enough to benefit from NFM’s strong name recognition that it established when it built not only the largest furniture and appliance retail store in the U.S., but also a retail and mixed-use development that includes hotels, offices, entertainment.

© 2022 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Nebraska Furniture Mart

Nebraska Furniture Mart Boosts Pay for Warehouse Workers

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With new employees hard to come by, and the need to retain current employees critical, Berkshire Hathaway’s Nebraska Furniture Mart is raising its pay for its warehouse workers.

Current warehouse workers at its Dallas-Ft. Worth location at The Colony will receive a pay raise of at least 9 percent, and new hires will be paid between $18.58 to $23.13 an hour, depending on experience and qualifications.

“Nebraska Furniture Mart’s goal is to be the employer of choice in each of our markets,” said Megan Berry Barlow, Human Resources Director, in a statement. “Our new higher wages will help us achieve this goal, along with a 7% annual raise potential, a great benefits package and a unique, fun work culture.”

© 2021 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Nebraska Furniture Mart

Berkshire Hathaway’s Grandscape Adds Immersive Entertainment Concept

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Electric Gamebox, a British entertainment concept centered on interactive gaming, has opened a 4,000-square-foot venue at Berkshire Hathaway’s Grandscape, the 433-acre mixed-use destination in the northern Dallas suburb of The Colony.

The venue is Electric Gamebox’s first in the United States.

Founded by Will Dean, the man behind Tough Mudder, and David Spindler, who conceived and launched the Tough Mudder Bootcamp franchise, Electric Gamebox is founded on the belief that technology should bring people together versus driving them apart.

Berkshire Hathaway’s Nebraska Furniture Mart is leading the development of the retail components of Grandscape. The furniture, appliances and home furnishings retailer opened in 2015, and anchors the development with 560,000 square feet of showroom space divided between two floors and covering 100 acres in total.

© 2021 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Nebraska Furniture Mart

Berkshire Hathaway Goes Big on Commercial Office Space for Grandscape

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While some question the fate of both retail and commercial office space, Berkshire is continuing to go all in on its ambitious commercial real estate development, Grandscape.

The 433 acre Grandscape, which is home to its Dallas-Fort Worth Nebraska Furniture Mart, will be teaming with Dallas-based developer Cawley Partners to add a multi-phase office development totaling more than 1.5 million square feet.

The new Class AA office development joins the sprawling Grandscape mixed-use development, anchored by Nebraska Furniture Mart and Scheels. The planned office development includes three, 500,000 square foot 17-story buildings.

Grandscape is a master-planned lifestyle center featuring more dining, retail, and entertainment venues than anywhere in the DFW metroplex.

“Our team has traveled all over the world to bring in the best mix of experiences to Grandscape, and we are very excited that corporate America will now have the opportunity to enjoy it on a daily basis,” says Jeff Lind, President of Grandscape.

“Grandscape has already raised the bar for engaging dining, entertainment, and family experiences, and corporate users are going to gravitate to this dynamic project,” says Bill Cawley, CEO of Cawley Partners.

Designed by Steven Janeway, Principal at Hoefer Wysocki, the offices are thoughtfully configured in relation to the larger mixed-use development and the post-Covid work environment. “Our team put considerable energy into designing a destination that would continue to elevate the landscape while being a timeless icon.” says Rob Welker, President and National Commercial Practice Leader at Hoefer Wysocki.

© 2020 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Nebraska Furniture Mart

Berkshire’s Grandscape Adding Multi-Attraction Entertainment Center

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A 1770-foot, multi-level kart racing circuit is coming to Berkshire Hathaway’s Grandscape, The Colony, North Dallas as a part of the opening of the newest location of Andretti Indoor Karting & Games.

At the heart of the experience is kart racing. A large, professionally-designed track, will run over three levels and feature banked semi-ovals, dive under, fly over, spiral ramps, exhilaratingly long straights any many more. The three-elevation change with the highest point on 42,65 ft will guarantee an ultimate driving experience.

The Grandscape location will include other attractions such as arcade games, ropes course, racing simulators with VR technology, a two-level laser tag arena, and boutique bowling.

The attraction is scheduled to open in March 2020.

Andretti Indoor Karting and Games was founded in 2001 in Orlando, Florida, and has four locations: one in Orlando, Florida, two in Georgia in Marietta and Roswell, and one in San Antonio, Texas.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Nebraska Furniture Mart

Nebraska Furniture Mart Updates Branding with Streamlined Logo

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When your highest volume store is a 9-hour drive from Omaha, Nebraska, it makes sense that Nebraska Furniture Mart would look at its branding.

Much like how Kentucky Fried Chicken evolved into KFC, in order to reflect that it had more than fried chicken, Berkshire Hathaway’s Nebraska Furniture Mart is streamlining its logo branding to NFM.

After all, it’s 658 miles from Omaha, Nebraska to Dallas, Texas, and a store named for a faraway state may not resonate as much in Texas.

“It’s not an official name change, just a logo update, Nebraska Furniture Mart spokesman Andy Shefsky told the Dallas Morning News. “We sell a lot more than just furniture, and we’re in a lot more than just Nebraska,” he said. “It’s simply modernizing, reflective of who we are as a company, but not forgetting that Nebraska is our everything.”

The Dallas store will see its Nebraska Furniture Mart exterior signage replaced with NFM sometime in the spring of 2020.

© 2019 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.