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For several years, there has been a need for entertainment options in the Midwest City.
When Community Development Director Robert Coleman was interviewing for his position, he was told that entertainment is a big recruiting target.
The city will have the options it's looking for this year when the Warren Theater opens in May and Andy's Altitude 1291 entertainment center opens in the fall. A groundbreaking for Andy's Altitude 1291 takes place on February 21st.
The sites are part of the Sooner Rose development at SE 15th Street and Sooner Road.
Andy's Altitude 1291 is developed and operated by the Allison family, which also owns Andy Alligator's Fun Park and Water Park in Norman.
The CEO of Allison's Fun Inc. Kyle Allison said the family had been looking to open another location in Oklahoma City, but began working with Midwest City about a year ago. She said the family is always looking for new ways to grow and wants to have activities that families can do together.
The Allisons visited bowling centers around the country to see what they could bring to their center that would complement the bowling and theater.
The 27,000-square-foot Andy's Altitude will have 12 bowling lanes, a two-story laser tag arena, an arcade, bumper cars, a climbing wall and a restaurant with a bar.
He said the family liked Midwest City because it draws customers from Choctaw, Harrah's and Nicoma Park.
“With this location, we'll be hitting eastern Oklahoma County and the north side of (Oklahoma City) as well,” Allison said.
Andy's Altitude 1291 was designed by Fitzgerald Associates Architects Inc. based in Oklahoma and will be built by TD Farrell Construction Inc., based in Georgia.
Coleman said the Allisons are enthusiastic about the project and have been easy to work with.
“We couldn't have asked for a better perspective than the Allison family,” he said.
The Warren Theater will have 10 screens and seat 1,000 people. Four of the displays will have balconies, Coleman said.
By opening the theater, the city expects to draw retail dollars spent on moviegoing elsewhere in the metro. The only other theater on the east side of the metro is in Shawnee.
Midwest City has a bowling alley, Planet Bowl. It has been a staple in the city since 1960 and has quite the draw with the championships.
“What's going to happen at Allison's is going to be different,” Coleman said. “(Bowling) will be more interactive.”
The Sooner Rose center is in a tax-increment economic district, and there are other incentives for developers. Four restaurants are already planned for the site, with more retailers to come, Coleman said. A Burlington store opened in September 2018.
A feast buffet and Mejai Hibachi restaurant have also been announced for the development.
“We've had a lot of interest from restaurants,” he said.
