City Officials Welcome Emagine Theatre

City officials are all smiles as the opens its doors to the public Monday.

From the Royal Oak police chief to local business owners, many are eager to see the foot traffic generated by the new 73,000-square-foot entertainment complex at Troy Street and 11 Mile Road.

"It's going to increase the viability of downtown Royal Oak," said Greg Rassel, Royal Oak's director of public service. "Dinner and a movie are a great way to spend an evening."

James Domanski, Downtown Development Authority director and owner, knows the business is a great idea for Royal Oak.

"We're all really excited it’s coming to town," he said. "It's one venue that was really needed. has brought a lot of people in, and I think this will be wonderful for us. Tons of people are going to come to town, and it will be wonderful for all of us — retail, restaurants, everybody."

The two-level offers 1,700 seats for the 10-screen cinema. Each theater has a stadium seating arrangement offering comfortable chairs and row spacing that is much wider than industry standards. Each auditorium includes luxury-seating sections with the convenience of reserved seating. All auditoriums are equipped with state-of-the-art digital projection.

Moviegoers will be able to enjoy their favorite cocktail, beer and wine, along with freshly popped popcorn and other concession items. They also may dine at the theater, enjoying gourmet bar food such as portabella mushroom sliders and a "paparazzi burger," made with beef and short ribs, prepared in Emagine’s 3,500-square-foot kitchen.

Star Lanes offers 12 lanes of open bowling and four private lanes, which may be rented for parties and special occasions.

Interim Chief Corrigan O'Donohue has been to other Emagine venues and knows the business will be a welcome, orderly addition to the city.

"We're excited for the theater and think it will be a great addition to the city, he said. "Emagine Theatres are a very well-run operation. They have their code of conduct advertised right as you walk in. It's a different experience."

City Commissioner Jim Rasor also understands the benefits the theater will bring to the city.

"Emagine is a real boost for our community," he said. "It adds a different entertainment resource to our downtown that we don't currently have. It's just a win-win for all of us in Royal Oak."

Rasor is happy the venue will provide entertainment for Royal Oak citizens and for "all the new folks in the metropolitan area that are going to discover Royal Oak through coming to Emagine Theatre."

As a dad, business owner and downtown dweller, Rasor looks forward to exploring the venue as an entertainment option for his family and clients.

"I love movies, so it’s the added convenience of not going to Birmingham or Southfield to a technically advanced theater," he explained. "And Emagine has been a great corporate citizen. They’ve already been deeply involved philanthropically in Royal Oak and other communities where they are located."

Before the grand opening Monday, Emagine Theatre hosted charity preview events throughout the weekend, including , benefiting Gleaners and the , and Emagine for Youth, benefiting the Royal Oak Foundation for Public Education and the .

As the theater had many naysayers upon its inception, Rasor hopes everyone will "take a moment to go and enjoy it and realize that it’s not going to be a bad thing."

Emagine is still accepting job applications for those interested in working in the theater or bowling alley. Applications may be downloaded from the website, emagine-entertainment.com, and dropped off at the business office next to the theater at 308 N. Main St.