Matt Gietl is bringing a Topgolf Swing Suite to the Wabash Avenue space that formerly was home to the Socavon cocktail bar.
Gietl, who also is an owner of the local Miss Kimmees gaming parlors, said the Swing Suite should open sometime in mid-August.
The Swing Suite will feature two indoor golf simulators and a shared common space. Topgolf Swing Suites is part of Topgolf International, Inc., a Dallas-based company with more than 100 locations worldwide. The Topgolf Swing Suite locations are smaller with simulated fairways, compared to the signature Topgolf locations.
The Full Swing simulators in the Topgolf Swing Suites are the same ones used by the PGA Tour, Gietl said.
“I’ve gone to places and played in golf simulators, and a lot of times, they just aren’t accurate, and it can be frustrating,” Gietl said. “These are the best ones you can buy.”
Beyond golf, other virtual games will be available on the simulators, such as football, baseball, soccer and zombie dodgeball.
The 2,600-square-foot space at 4177 Wabash Ave. also will include a full-size bar and a separate, 400-square-foot gaming room, similar to Miss Kimmees locations. Gietl’s ownership group operates eight Miss Kimmees in Springfield, as well as two in Decatur.
Socavon closed at the end of 2025 after three years in business. The bar and lounge was owned by Luis Morales, who also previously operated the Roots Latin Grill just two doors down at 4127 Wabash. That restaurant closed in May.
Topgolf has two of its signature locations in Illinois — Schaumburg and Naperville — and Topgolf Swing Suite also has two Illinois locations, both in Chicago. The Springfield location is listed as “coming soon” on the company’s website.