Cineplex-owned restaurant chain opens first B.C. location in Burnaby
The Rec Room offers dining and gaming all under one roof
The Rec Room at Brentwood Town Centre. (Breanna Himmelwright)
Cineplex’s entertainment restaurant chain The Rec Room has finally come to British Columbia as of July 5. The restaurant also includes an arcade.
It’s the first B.C. location, located in Brentwood Town Centre in Burnaby. According to a recent press release from Cineplex, the new venue boasts 44,000 square feet featuring a full-service restaurant, an arcade with over 90 games, and a live performance space set for locally-based musical acts, comedy, and DJs, as well as trivia and karaoke.
“We’ve been looking across Canada for locations,” says Kashif Ahmad, executive director of amusement and entertainment at Cineplex.
“We were looking [to start a] premium eats and entertainment location in the communities in Vancouver, and we found with our VIP cinema opening here and the Rec Room here, there would just be a great synergy.”
The location was first announced in 2017 and has been under construction as part of Brentwood Town Centre’s redevelopment. However, the pandemic delayed the location’s opening, which was originally supposed to take place in 2019.
With restrictions across the province lifting as vaccination rates rise and COVID-19 cases lowering, Cineplex is also working on a second location on South Granville, which has been in the works since 2019.
The full-service restaurant has a menu inspired by the vastness and diversity of Canada, which includes various appetizers, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizza, entrees, and desserts, as well as brunch and happy hour options.
Customers can also enjoy more portable food options at The Shed, which features poutines, snacks, and cakes.
Customers can also access a wide selection of drinks such as hand-crafted cocktails and 16 draught beers on tap, including locally-sourced brews. A private dining room can also be booked for various events, whether for work or more personal occasions.
The arcade area of the location, otherwise known as The Yard, features over 90 different games ranging from classics including pool, ping pong, and Mario Kart, to games from movies and shows like Marvel titles and “The Walking Dead”.
The location uses RFID wristbands to track credits earned on certain games, which can be redeemed for a wide range of prizes, treats, and toys. The feature attraction of The Yard is a VRX motion-based car simulator, in which visitors can experience a simulation of a professional racing track.
“[It’s] a lot of fun under one roof…there’s not a lot of places where you can go and have that premium dining experience, premium entertainment experience, and premium game experience,” Ahmad says.
