"We are transforming this mall from 'come here and shop' to 'come here and watch a movie or watch a comedy show or play arcade games,'" Mall at Wellington Green marketing manager Julie Schalm told WPTV in July. Four months later, that plan is open for business. The mall at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd. now has a comedy club, a live-music restaurant and an arcade that stays open until 3 a.m.
This changes how a Wellington evening works. The Village's own events at the Wellington Amphitheater and the Town Center Promenade still happen on specific dates, along the same road. The mall now covers nearly every other night of the week, indoors and late. A night out in Wellington this season depends on which of those two calendars you check.
The comedy club and the rock pub opened a year late
The mall announced the pairing in June 2025. Palm Beach Improv and its sister concept, Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen, would anchor a new dining and entertainment section, with opening expected in late 2025. That date slipped. WPTV reported in July 2026 that the Improv planned to open over Labor Day weekend. It did, and The Wellington Edit reported that Nate Jackson's Big Dog Comedy Tour headlined the opening weekend.
Copper Blues held its grand opening on Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17. For many longtime Palm Beach County residents it is a familiar name. The Palm Beach Post noted that the original location was a CityPlace fixture until the building was demolished in 2023.
The Town-Crier describes Copper Blues as the Improv's official bar and restaurant. It sits next to the club, and diners and music fans can go in without a comedy ticket. The original plan placed both on the upper level in a 13,700-square-foot space. On the menu are Copper Nachos and Steak Frites, plus cocktails named Strawberry Fields and Champagne Supernova. Brunch is planned for later. According to the Copper Blues site, acoustic acts play during happy hour and cover bands play on weekends, generally with no cover charge.
The Improv's calendar runs from now into the holidays. Tony Baker plays Nov. 19, Danny Gonzalez plays Nov. 20 and 21, and Adam Carolla closes the month Nov. 27 through 29. December brings Damon Wayans Dec. 3 through 6, Trey Kennedy Dec. 18 and 19, Michael Winslow on Dec. 20, and Gianmarco Soresi on Dec. 30 and 31, which covers New Year's Eve.
The mall now keeps 3 a.m. hours
Three of the mall's evening businesses now share one building. Here is how the evening businesses at the mall line up by hours.
| Venue | Location in the mall | Hours | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcade Time Entertainment | Suite 122, first floor by the food court | 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. | Modern and retro arcade, pinball, billiards, full kitchen and bar |
| Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen | Next to Palm Beach Improv | Fri. and Sat. until 3 a.m.; Thu. until 1 a.m.; Sun. through Wed. until midnight | Restaurant, bar, acoustic and cover-band music |
| Palm Beach Improv | Shared space with Copper Blues | Show times vary by headliner | National touring comics, local performers, open mics |
Copper Blues opens at 4 p.m. on weekdays and at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Arcade Time set the pattern first. In late June it moved from a second-floor storefront to a 13,000-square-foot first-floor space near the food court and added a full-service kitchen and bar. "Entertainment paired with dining has proven to be a model that helps bring new energy and long-term foot traffic to malls," owner Jonathan Demare told WPTV. The Copper Blues and Improv opening extended that bar-and-entertainment model to the upper level.
Families got the daytime version first
The mall also built a daytime schedule, and it serves a younger crowd. Kids Empire opened this year in Suite 268. It is an indoor playground for ages 1 to 12, with a multi-level maze, slides, ball pits, a dance floor and a toddler zone. One all-day admission lets families leave and come back the same day. The Wellington Edit described it as a climate-controlled option for summer heat and rain. Silk & Sugga Bakery opened this past summer on the first floor near JCPenney and sells cookies and seasonal desserts.
Dessert also continues just outside the mall. Sisters Laura and Patricia Generoso opened La Coppetta Matta at 10660 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 150. They brought a New York family café tradition with them. The case holds more than 24 gelato flavors, plus Italian ices, gelato pops, affogato and cappuccino granita.
These additions have changed the mall's busiest months. WPTV reported that summer is now one of the mall's busiest seasons. Shopping is still part of the draw. The same report said Macy's, Dillard's and JCPenney continue to perform well, and the Macy's at Wellington Green is the chain's highest-performing store in Florida.
The Village calendar runs on set dates
The mall is open nearly every night, while the Village books specific dates. Saturday, Oct. 17 had both. That afternoon the Village held its Fall Festival at Village Park, with costume contests, trick-or-treating, bounce houses and a petting zoo. That night was the second of Copper Blues' two grand-opening nights at the mall.
Through mid-December, the Village calendar lists these outdoor dates:
- Nov. 21: Love Cats, a tribute to The Cure, at the Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd. Danny Gonzalez plays the Improv the same night.
- Dec. 3: Holiday Cultural Celebration and tree lighting at the Amphitheater, on the first night of Damon Wayans' four-night Improv run.
- Dec. 12: Holiday Boat Parade at the Town Center Promenade, 12150 Forest Hill Blvd.
- Dec. 13: The 42nd Wellington Holiday Parade, listed at the Amphitheater.
The December listings cover the holiday events in more detail. The two calendars rarely compete. The Village's events cluster around a few dates and a single season. The mall's venues cover the weeknights and late hours in between.
The vacant stores are next
The same strategy is now reaching the mall's empty retail space. Nearby, at 10570 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Diadem Pickleball Complex is going into the former Circuit City in the Shoppes at Wellington Green. Circuit City closed its stores after its 2008 bankruptcy, and the site has been mostly vacant since then. The plans include 11 air-conditioned indoor courts, pickleball and golf simulators, a pro shop and party space. There will also be a restaurant and bar called Cat 5, serving pizza, salads, beer and wine. As of the Town-Crier's September report, the target was a soft opening in December and a full launch in January.
The largest empty building is the former Nordstrom. In WPTV's July report, Village Manager Jim Barnes said the space could become apartments, with one-, two- and three-bedroom units, a tower and a parking structure. It was described as a possibility. The mall has been open for more than 25 years and has housed more than 160 stores over that time. Its tenants are shifting from stores toward courts, stages and late-night dining.
If you own in Wellington and want an informed view of how changes like these may affect your property's position, Daniel Maya offers a discreet, detail-driven conversation. Request a Confidential Market Consultation.
