The Rec Room
Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Entertainment restaurants |
Founded | 2016 in Edmonton |
Number of locations | 10 |
Parent | Cineplex Entertainment |
Website | therecroom |
The Rec Room is a Canadian chain of entertainment restaurants owned by Cineplex Entertainment. It first opened in Edmonton in 2016 and its locations feature entertainment and recreational attractions such as an arcade, driving simulators; recreational games such as darts, bowling, archery, and virtual reality; as well as restaurants and bars, and an auditorium with a cinema-style screen, which can be used for concerts and other live events.
History
[edit]In January 2015, Cineplex Entertainment announced the establishment of The Rec Room as a brand-new concept, with initial locations set for Calgary's Deerfoot City, South Edmonton Common, and Roundhouse Park in Toronto.[1][2][3] Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob explained that the chain was meant to help the company diversify beyond its core cinema business in the wake of the growing streaming industry.[4]
The first location opened in South Edmonton Common in September 2016.[5] A second location at Roundhouse Park opened in June 2017, along with a second Edmonton location at West Edmonton Mall.[1][2]
Cineplex aimed to open 10-15 locations of The Rec Room nationally, ranging in size from 30,000 to 50,000 square feet. The company subsequently announced and opened other locations, including Masonville Place in London,[3][6][7][8] Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga (replacing parts of the former Target Canada store),[9] Avalon Mall in St. Johns, Seasons of Tuxedo in Winnipeg, and Brentwood Town Centre in Burnaby.[10][11][12] In May 2019, Cineplex announced a second Vancouver-area location on Granville Street which would feature a rooftop patio. Originally slated to open in 2021, it was delayed to November 2024 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13][14] In September 2019, Cineplex announced plans to open their first Quebec location at Royalmount in Mount Royal,[15] which is slated to open in fall 2024.[16]
The Toronto location features The Void virtual reality attraction.[2] In July 2018, Cineplex announced that it would become the exclusive Canadian franchisee of The Void and add additional locations (such as the Mississauga and West Edmonton Mall locations).[17]
Locations
[edit]- Alberta[18]
- Deerfoot, Calgary
- South Edmonton, Edmonton
- West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton[1]
- British Columbia
- Brentwood Town Centre, Burnaby,
- Granville Entertainment District, Vancouver (opening November 2024)[14]
- Manitoba
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Ontario
- Quebec
- Royalmount, Mount Royal (opening fall 2024)[16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Second Rec Room location almost ready to go in West Edmonton Mall". Edmonton Journal. 2017-07-06. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ a b c d "Be a virtual Ghostbuster at Toronto's new Cineplex Rec Room". Toronto Star. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
- ^ a b c "Roundhouse to get Cineplex 'social destination' for dining, entertainment". Toronto Star. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ "Entertainment and eats emporium the Rec Room opens in Toronto". Toronto Star. July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
- ^ "The Rec Room dining, entertainment centre targets Edmonton millennials". CBC News Edmonton. 2016-09-19. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ "Cineplex at Edmonton's South Edmonton Common opening The Rec Room". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ "Cineplex unveils big plans for Deerfoot City". NewsTalk770. Corus Radio. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ "Cineplex's 'Rec Room' opening slated for summer 2017". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ Rosella, Louie (2017-11-06). "'Perfect spot': Here's what's coming to the old Target store at Square One". Mississauga.com. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
- ^ "The Rec Room in Avalon Mall promising games, drinks, and a dose of nostalgia". CBC News. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
- ^ "Future of retail? Cineplex to open massive entertainment centre at Winnipeg's Seasons of Tuxedo". CBC News. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
- ^ "Cineplex eyes Burnaby for Rec Room entertainment complex". Vancouver Sun. 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
- ^ Brown, Scott (2019-05-15). "Cineplex opening Rec Room fun centre on Granville Street in Vancouver". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ^ a b Lee-Young, Joanne (2016-09-19). "Can a new entertainment venue revitalize Vancouver's beleaguered Granville strip?". CBC News Edmonton. Archived from the original on 2024-10-09. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ Fournier, Marie-Eve (2019-09-18). "Cineplex, first tenant of the Royalmount". La Presse. Archived from the original on 2020-08-04. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ a b "Royalmount". The Rec Room. Archived from the original on 2024-11-01. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ "Cineplex to add at least 5 more Void virtual-reality experience centres". CBC News. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
- ^ "The Rec Room". The Rec Room. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- Cineplex Entertainment
- Restaurants established in 2016
- Entertainment companies of Canada
- Video arcades
- Regional restaurant chains in Canada
- 2016 establishments in Alberta
- Restaurants in Alberta
- Restaurants in Manitoba
- Restaurants in British Columbia
- Restaurants in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Restaurants in Toronto
- Restaurants in Ontario