As more Americans do their shopping online, retail spaces are adjusting. The latest is near the Ice Den in West Chandler, where Taroko Sports held its grand opening on Nov. 8.

It’s not something anyone can order online and have delivered. What they sell, according to General Manager Sam Torres, is fun.

“We have something for everybody, I think that’s our biggest thing,” Torres said. “Anybody that has never picked up a baseball in their life, never hit a baseball, or even people who have never even thrown darts before can come in here and have some fun.”

Taroko mostly offers batting cages, both for softball and baseball. The company got its start in Taiwan and grew quickly to 30 locations across Asia.

The Chandler location is the third in the United States, second in Arizona.

“I think he wanted to bring his passion project to the U.S. to show people that you can have fun while practicing,” Torres said of the company’s owner.

For softball, the fast pitch cages will deliver the ball to hitters at between 35 and 45 miles per hour. They also have slow pitch machines for people who prefer that game.

In the baseball cages, the range that the machines will deliver a pitch range from 50 to 80 miles per hour, Torres said.

He added they have something unique, in that hitters will see a pitcher winding up on a screen prior to the pitch being delivered. And, they have both right- and left-handed deliveries to choose from.

“I’m a left-handed hitter, so at our first location in Katy (Texas), there was a limited amount of left handers. At the one in Mesa, we unfortunately didn’t learn from our first mistake.”

Torres said he kept lobbying for more left-handed machines and was able to secure them for the Chandler location.

There are also some cages for pitchers to work on their game. 

“We call it Perfect Pitch,” Torres said. “You get to toss the ball and throw to a strike zone that’s full of 16 squares, and your objective is to throw the ball and hit all those squares.”

There are also some cages with an immersive environment. It is similar to a golfing simulator with a screen showing your favorite course and measuring how and where you hit the ball.

In this case, Torres said players can pick any Major League Baseball stadium to hit. Want to hit a home run in Yankee Stadium, or Wrigley Field, or Chase Field? It can provide that backdrop.

Torres said they will offer specials on a regular basis. The current offering is $1 Tuesdays, where batters can hit the cages for more than half off.

“Our batting cages are typically $2.50, but on Tuesdays they are $1 all day long,” Torres said. 

Batters get about 15 pitches to hit for that $1 on Tuesdays.

Taroko Sports, 865 N. 54th St.,  is the latest entertainment business to open in an area filled with them. In the same complex are Hobby Action, which includes a model car raceway, and Slick City Action Park. All three are across the street from the Ice Den.

Taroko Sports does offer food and beverages and is awaiting approval of a liquor license so it can offer adult beverages.

However, Torres said no one is coming to their business for the food. He says they’re coming for the fun.

Information: Tarokosports.com.