Family entertainment center opens in Warrenville
Eat. Bowl. Play.
That company motto is clear when you step into Main Event - a family entertainment center opening Wednesday at 28248 Diehl Road in Warrenville.
Adjacent the Regal Cantera Movie Theater, the 48,000-square-foot building houses bowling lanes, billiards, laser tag, more than 100 arcade and amusement games, a full bar and two dining options in a modern setting.
On the second floor, two conference rooms and a private bar can accommodate up to 250 people for work events, birthday parties or other gatherings.
There's an abundance of bright lights, flat-screen TVs and upbeat music throughout the center, too.
"What makes Main Event different from other entertainment centers is that everything is under one roof," General Manager Geoff Wood said. "We're all ready to get the doors open and start showing our guests what we have to offer, and the level of service we have that will also separate us from our competitors."
Roughly 250 government and business leaders came out for Tuesday's ribbon-cutting - and a ceremonial throwing of neon-colored bowling balls down the new lanes - to celebrate the center's opening.
The company also presented a $5,000 check to the Boys and Girls Club of Naperville during the event.
"It's not often that you get a venue of this size and this shape to come to your town and bring all the benefits that it brings to us, so we are absolutely delighted you're here," Warrenville Mayor David Brummel said. "I hope that you're here a long, long time and you prosper."
Naperville Mayor George Pradel was on hand, too, telling the crowd it's "a wonderful, refreshing time" for the area thanks to the center's opening.
"All I can say is 'Wow!'" he said. "Thank you for all the hard work that you've done."
Main Event Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer Charlie Keegan said the company started in Dallas about 15 years ago, but only began expanding outside of Texas about a year ago.
The Warrenville location is the company's 17th nationwide, and first in Illinois.
"It was probably a year or two before we would have planned to come (to Warrenville), but this site became available and so we've been working hard to get this particular site open," he said.
"Demographically, this market maps very well with what our concept is," he said. "We skew (toward) families, middle-upper income. It's just a beautiful match."
In the arcade area, games range from classics, such as Skee-ball, to sit-down racing games with large flat screens. Prices per play start at 50 cents and continue up to several dollars.
Suspended above the games are "gravity ropes," an obstacle course that typically costs $6 to $8 and requires participants to balance on narrow planks and cross over rope bridges.
Quick and casual food, such as pizza and smoothies, are available and popular. An eat-in area also offers a full-service menu, including specialty cocktails, shareable appetizers, salads, burgers and other entrees.
Main Event is open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday; 11 a.m. to midnight Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday; 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday.
A public grand opening event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27.