Main Event arcade opens in Deer Park

Bleep-bloop, THUMP, whoo-whoo, buzz and CLICK! That's the immersive cacophony you hear when entering the new entertainment center Main Event in Deer Park, which opened May 18.

Owned by Dave & Buster’s, the Deer Park location is the 64th in the chain that has been running since 1998. This is the first Main Event to open in the Northeast (it is not affiliated with the Main Event sports bars in Plainview and Farmingdale). The 50,000-square foot facility can hold 1,300 people and offers activities for people of all ages.

"There’s literally something for everyone here," says general manager Daniel Eurell.

Special events manager Karen Kelly adds, "This is a community spot where Long Island families can gather to make memories."

When arriving, guests are greeted by an array of kiosks where you can choose your activities. There’s no admission fee as each activity is paid for a la carte.

"You can sign up for specific activities at specific times," Eurell says. "It will give you the estimated wait time and you can make a reservation."

There are four major areas to explore upon visiting Main Event.

ENTER THE ARCADE

The arcade takes up the front portion of the main floor containing 125 games that vary in type. There are movie-themed games like "Godzilla Kaiju Wars," "Jurassic World Jungle Jackpot," "Top Gun Maverick" and "The Fast & the Furious" as well as sports games such as Hyper Pitch (baseball), NBA Hoops (basketball), Tundra Toss (football) and World Football Pro (soccer). Eighties video games Space Invaders Frenzy and World’s Largest Pac-Man get supersized with 8-foot LED screens. There’s even old-fashioned carnival games like Skee-Ball, Ring Toss, Down the Clown and Break the Plate thrown in for good measure.

Some games are more physically interactive like Hyper Grid, which is an entire alcove containing an illuminated grid floor holding up to four players who battle over escaping the lava. The Human Crane game involves putting your entire body in a harness.

"It lifts you up over a big bed of prizes. You get lowered to grab one prize and then it picks you up," Eurell says. "The game attendant operates the crane with a joystick, but you can tell them which way to go."

Each game runs on 5-25 chips, which can be purchased on a Fun Card ($20 card is 100 chips). Certain games offer winning tickets which can be redeemed for prizes at Winner’s Choice, a prize room in the front left of the entrance, which has everything from rubber super balls (10 tickets) to a Pac-Man Plug & Play game (3,710 tickets).

GO BOWLING

Bowling fans will be happy to learn that there are 14 lanes situated toward the back part of the first floor. Each lane is equipped with multiple flatscreens and electronic scoring. Bowling shoes and balls are available ($5.95), plus there’s a seating area with server service for food and drinks ($49.50 per lane, 90-minutes). A VIP bowl room featuring six private lanes in a separate room with a lounge atmosphere and buffet that can be rented out for private parties.

TAKE ON LASER TAG

On the second floor, strap on a sensor vest and grab a blaster for a round of laser tag. Each 15-minute session accommodates 35 people in a glow-in-the-dark setting with Egyptian/Aztec design theme. ($13 per session)

BITES & BILLIARDS

All this activity can work up quite an appetite. Head over to the dining room behind the arcade where a full menu is available with table service.

Start with some appetizers like Philly cheesesteak egg rolls ($14.99), loaded tower of nachos ($17.49) or fried pickles ($11.49). Entrees include burgers ($16.49-$17.99), sandwiches ($16.49-$18.49), pizzas ($14.49-$23.99) and dinner platters ($15.99-$28.49).

Up for dessert? Try the funnel cake fries ($10.99) or the signature Big Super Fun Sundae, which features four scoops of ice cream, brownies, cinnamon-sugar doughnut holes, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, Oreo crumbles, rainbow sprinkles and sour rainbow strips ($17.49).

A fully stocked bar with a dozen beers on tap pours drinks like a Cotton Candy Shirley ($5.99) for kids or a margarita flight ($17.49) for adults featuring a trio of flavors (watermelon, blue citrus and pineapple passion). Diners can also eat at the bar, if preferred.

Three pool tables and a shuffleboard table (each $17 per hour) can provide amusement in the dining room as well as multiple flatscreens showing live sports games.

SPECIAL DEALS

Those seeking a deal can come Monday after 4 p.m. for "Monday Night Madness" when guests can purchase a $12.99 all-you-can-play activity pass. This allows them to pick two activities or games that don’t dispense tickets. On the kiosk menu there are also meal and Fun Card combos.