The go-kart facility slated for an empty Cinnaminson shopping center is now out of the demolition phase and into the building phase, according to officials.

The tracks will be custom built and dozens of go-karts should arrive some time next month, said Travis Thompson, co-owner.

Speed Raceway, the Denver-based go-kart facility, is set to open this fall where Vanity Fair once was in the Acme shopping center. The track is indoors and entirely electric, featuring European-style karts for riders ages 7 and up. Three video racing simulators and conference rooms for birthday parties or business meetings round out the facility’s features.

Earlier this month, Speed Raceway opened a location in Horsham, PA, and Thompson said everything has been going smoothly there, welcoming 3,000 visitors since Aug. 1.

“As far we can tell,” Thompson said, “it’s been a lot of high fives and smiles.”

At the Cinnaminson location, Thompson said the inside of the former Vanity Fair was retrofitted to utilize their needs. Flat walls needed to come down for a completely open space, he said, but all the ceilings are staying in. The area is 87,000 square feet and also encompasses the former Sleepy’s location in the center.

Traffic-control islands in the lot and parking spaces are all finished and next, the outside of the façade will be painted. Speed Raceway will be the second major business to open in the mostly vacant shopping center this year. Sonic Drive-In opened March 27 to much success and highly popular Brother’s Pizza holds down the opposite end of the center right at the entrance to Acme.

“When I go down Route 130, there’s a lot of beautiful new shopping centers, but it’s all retail,” Thompson said. “There’s nothing to do but shop. From that standpoint—this will be beneficial.”

There will be two racetracks inside with about 10 cars racing at one time, while 10 more are charging. Go-karts come in two sizes—for those 12 years of age and older and at least 56 inches, and for kids no younger than 7 who are at least 48 inches.

Kids younger than 12 must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver before they can ride. Waivers may be signed prior to a child’s arrival.

But the go-karts aren’t just for kids, Thompson assured; on Friday and Saturday nights, Speed Raceway is crowded with adults who don’t always want to be at the bar all night, he said.

“Many people in the 30- to 50-year-old range have said they remember riding go-karts as a kid,” he said. 

Speed Raceway in Cinnaminson is scheduled to open Oct. 15 with a grand opening sometime after that. The grand opening for Horsham is Sept. 15 if go-karters want to check out the facility before it opens in Cinnaminson.