The Rec Room

This article is about the restaurant chain. For the physical room of a house, see Recreation room. For the video game, see Rec Room (video game). For the fictional holodeck-like device, see The Practical Joker.

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.

The Rec Room

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Entertainment restaurants
Founded	2016 in Edmonton
Number of locations	10
Parent	Cineplex Entertainment
Website	therecroom.com

The Rec Room in Square One, Mississauga

History

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

• 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
  • Seasons of Tuxedo, Winnipeg
• Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Avalon Mall, St. John's
• Ontario
  • Masonville, London
  • Park Place, Barrie
  • Roundhouse Park, Toronto^[2][3]
  • Square One Shopping Centre, Mississauga
• Quebec
  • Royalmount, Mount Royal (opening fall 2024)^[16]

See also

• Dave & Buster's
• Player One Amusement Group

References

1. "Second Rec Room location almost ready to go in West Edmonton Mall". Edmonton Journal. 2017-07-06. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
2. "Be a virtual Ghostbuster at Toronto's new Cineplex Rec Room". Toronto Star. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
3. "Roundhouse to get Cineplex 'social destination' for dining, entertainment". Toronto Star. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
4. "Entertainment and eats emporium the Rec Room opens in Toronto". Toronto Star. July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
5. "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.
6. "Cineplex at Edmonton's South Edmonton Common opening The Rec Room". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
7. "Cineplex unveils big plans for Deerfoot City". NewsTalk770. Corus Radio. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
8. "Cineplex's 'Rec Room' opening slated for summer 2017". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
9. 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.
10. "The Rec Room in Avalon Mall promising games, drinks, and a dose of nostalgia". CBC News. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
11. "Future of retail? Cineplex to open massive entertainment centre at Winnipeg's Seasons of Tuxedo". CBC News. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
12. "Cineplex eyes Burnaby for Rec Room entertainment complex". Vancouver Sun. 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
13. Brown, Scott (2019-05-15). "Cineplex opening Rec Room fun centre on Granville Street in Vancouver". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. "Royalmount". The Rec Room. Archived from the original on 2024-11-01. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
17. "Cineplex to add at least 5 more Void virtual-reality experience centres". CBC News. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
18. "The Rec Room". The Rec Room. Retrieved 2021-12-26.