Cineplex-owned “eats & entertainment destination” The Rec Room has opened its first location in British Columbia at Burnaby’s The Amazing Brentwood. The venue spans 44,000 square feet and it combines amusement gaming, several dining options and feature attractions in one destination. The Rec Room is located directly below the new ‘Cineplex VIP Cinemas Brentwood’ which will be opening soon as well.
The grand opening is a highly visible and major milestone for Shape Properties in showing progression in its master plan for The Amazing Brentwood after purchasing the shopping centre in 2010. Retail Insider recently featured the Phase 1 transformation of retail and restaurant amenities in a photo tour. The addition of The Rec Room is key in furthering the goal of Shape Property “to become the ultimate gathering place”.
Announced back in May 2017, the location becomes the first Rec Room west of the Rockies. “We are very pleased that Cineplex has chosen The Amazing Brentwood for both of its flagship concepts, including the first location of The Rec Room in BC,” said Darren Kwiatkowski, Executive Vice President of Development and Design at Shape Properties. “The Cineplex VIP Cinema will occupy the top floor of the signature building that floats dramatically above the Plaza, designed specifically for a premium movie experience. The Rec Room is one floor below, and together they will play an integral role in activating The Plaza and The Entertainment Precinct which is designed to be the vibrant public heart of The Amazing Brentwood and the overall Brentwood Town Centre.”
Arriving at Burnaby’s The Rec Room
The main entrance is accessed through the central building through the “The Grand Lobby” on the second floor. Crossing a bridge brought the tour to the main reception and coat check desk. The location-specific pool cue portrait of Burnaby was hung next to the main desk as is a tradition for each “The Rec Room” location.
The Yard
The Yard is a key attraction for The Rec Room and is a massive attractions area where guests can play over 90 amusement games. Feature attractions including virtual reality and race car simulators, as well as classic favourites like bowling lanes and air hockey. Crowd-pleaser video games include blockbuster titles like Jurassic Park as well as gamer favourites like Halo.
Racing simulation is a largely untapped market when it comes to competitive gaming on a professional scale. The Rec Room noted the trend while partnering with Victoria-based racing simulators located on the floor. High-Tech VRX motion-based car simulators are available to give patrons the experience of driving the race track like a professional race car driver.
Gamers will be able to focus on fun with VenueSafeTM, a set of protocols and procedures that Cineplex follows each and every day to keep its employees and guests safe, in accordance with provincial guidelines. Committed to guests’ safety, these protocols include enhanced cleaning, safety signage, and a games-floor and dining-space configuration designed specifically to ensure proper physical distancing throughout the facility.
Walking through The Yard has something for every patron. The Rec Room brings opportunities for fleeing the zombie apocalypse, maneuvering the claw for your favourite plush toy, getting your “Super Smash” going with Mario Brothers, or getting athletic with Basketball Hoop-Toss and baseball pitch. All are taken care of through an RFID-enabled bracelet to keep you fumbling for coins and to enjoy the games. Old school games like Atari Pong and the World’s Largest Pac-Man are sure to be favourites.
The Trophy Case
Once patrons are done saving the world from the zombie apocalypse, credits earned are tracked on RFID wristbands and can be redeemed at “The Trophy Case” redemption store for a wide variety of prizes – everything from retro candy to drones, and whisky stones to portable speakers. Bragging rights go to the top earners who will be profiled on The Rec Room’s legendary leaderboard.
Sit Down Food Options at Three10
Three10 is an upscale casual restaurant that is playfully named after Canada’s three territories and 10 provinces. The full-service restaurant features the best in wood-fired pizza and Canadian-inspired cuisine through familiar items that have been elevated and transformed through fresh ingredients and innovative cooking techniques.
Intended as a gathering place to visit or watch a sporting event on the ultra big screen television with close proximity to “The Yard” for those wanting a break from the action, or between hockey periods.
Grab and Wander Food Options at The Shed
The Rec Room’s quick-service destination includes a poutinerie with elevated toppings like porchetta, smoked brisket, lobster and wild mushrooms. It’s mainly intended to grab-and-go to allow patrons to eat while they compete in The Yard. It also has drinks such as 16 draught beers on tap (many locally sourced) and a sweet selection of made-to-order funnel cakes.
Other Meeting Spaces for The Rec Room
Additional spaces to the right of the main entrance and aside from the action allows for drinks and conversation for patrons, including:
- The Lounge and Lofts provide small group space for informal drinks, and
- The Den provides multiple private dining rooms for corporate events.
The Hall
An open performance space next to Three10 offers potential for both live and programmed entertainment, including musical acts, comedy, DJs, trivia, and karaoke once provincial restrictions are lifted.
The Rec Room opened its very first location at Edmonton’s South Edmonton Common in the fall of 2016. The Amazing Brentwood location is the ninth The Rec Room location for Cineplex, opening closely after the eighth location in Avalon Mall in St. Johns, Newfoundland which gave Cineplex bragging rights in saying The Rec Room is now “coast-to-coast” in Canada.
Cineplex currently operates eight other locations of The Rec Room in West Edmonton Mall, South Edmonton Common, Calgary, Winnipeg, London (ON), Mississauga, Toronto and St. John’s, with another location opening this summer in Barrie (ON). The Rec Room range in size from 30,000-50,000 square feet, with approximately half of the space devoted to dining and live entertainment and the other half devoted to amusement games and feature attractions. Cineplex also operates Playdium, an entertainment complex designed for teens, their friends and family, with locations in Brampton (ON), Whitby (ON) and Dartmouth (NS).
LOL Good luck, Amazing Brentwood Rec Roon