“I’m very pleased with how it turned out. I think it’s going to be a great addition to the community. I thank all the workers and construction people who have helped along the way and got it done early. We’re happy with it. I’m proud of it. I think it’s going to be a game-changing event for our company and our employees and I’m excited to get it going,” said Thomas Andes, who owns the Thomas Theatre Group that operates Tri-City Cinemas.

Gundlach Champion served as the main contractor, with construction beginning in September. The addition includes a 145-seat restaurant and a gaming area with dozens of games. In addition there is a quiet room to be used for birthdays or afterwork events and an area for axe throwing.

Thomas’ wife, Valarie, said it made great sense to open in Quinnesec.

“We live here in this town, so that made it an easy choice, so we could be here and watch it all go up. We can be here to operate it and make sure it runs smoothly,” she said.

The gaming area that is part of a new 9,000-square-foot addition at Tri-City Cinemas in Quinnesec. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

Kristen Burrell, marketing and event sales manager, provided a tour of the facility and talked about the opening June 15.

“It was a beautiful day. We had a steady stream of customers going to movies. A lot of people didn’t know that was our main entrance now. They get to see everything,” Burrell said.

“One of the cool features that we have here, if they are going to a movie they can order their food and … they get a text when it’s ready. They can eat and go to a movie,” Burrell said

The axe throwing area has tables for customers to join with food or drinks. Burrell explained that it’s not your typical axe throwing.

“We have drop-down Velcro that can be with Velcro axes, so kids can use it,” she said.

Kristen Burrell, marketing and event sales manager, stands in front of the new entrance at Tri-City Cinemas in Quinnesec, which provides access to the theater as well as the new restaurant and gaming areas. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

The party room connects to the theater and has exits toward the gaming area as well.

“This just provides a nice quiet space,” Burrell said. “We have a variety of different options we can provide.”

The restaurant has many different food options — burgers, salads, wraps, flatbreads, tacos, children’s items, eat-and-play items and appetizers. Also served are a number of beers, liquors, sodas and other non-alcoholic signature drinks.

“Every movie we can accommodate something fun to bring it all together,” Valarie said.

“My favorite thing is the restaurant now, just having easy food options because I’m here every day in the office,” Valarie said. “We’ve got three kids, so they can come play the games, too.”

The new 9,000-square-foot addition on the front of Tri-City Cinemas in Quinnesec serves as the new main entrance to the theater. The building opened on June 15 and includes a restaurant, gaming area, axe throwing area and party room. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

“This is awesome. It’s one of a kind. It’s a destination now for the entire U.P. It will be fun and we’re open longer hours now with our movies,” said Manager Jack Pancheri, who has been with the company since 1997. “People are coming in, enjoying the restaurant, playing games, having fun.”

The theater employs a number of part-time people and 45 were just added to work in the new addition, Valarie said. They are looking for additional employees.

They are open 11 a.m. to midnight every day of the year, as long as customers remain.

For updates and current showtimes, look for the theatre on Facebook, Instagram, X, their app or website at www.ThomasTheatreGroup.com.

Founded in 1922 by Martin D. Thomas, Thomas Theatre Group has locations in Escanaba, Quinnesec and Marquette.

The axe throwing area at Tri-City Cinemas in Quinnesec has options to accommodate children. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.

Alyvia Kowalski, a senior at Kingsford High School, works behind the counter at the concession stand in the main part of Tri-City Cinemas. Kowalski is a two-year employee. The concession and movie area of the theater didn't see any major upgrades with the addition. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)