Yay Entertainment launched the first chain in its $40 million investment into the Chuck E Cheese franchise when operations officially opened for business at Brentwood, Chaguanas on Wednesday. Speaking with the media at a special pre-opening event on Wednesday night, Joanna Rostant, one of the directors at Yay Entertainment, said the investment at the 14,000 square-foot Brentwood branch ran into millions of dollars, but did not disclose the figure. Rostant said the operations at Brentwood would generate employment for around 60 people from both inside and outside the community. She said more employment should be coming when two other branches open at north and south, respectively. She said Chaguanas was chosen because of its rapid growth in business and its growing population density.
The area is on the upswing and is poised to be the next city in Trinidad and was easily accessible by consumers from north and south. The compound is easily accessible from the southbound lane of the Uriah Butler Highway, has ample parking and adequate security. The company will also be introducing an additional security feature where all people in a group with children will be stamped with a dye visible under ultra violet light. Rostant said this would ensure that children did not leave the compound alone or leave with strangers.
She said the facility had enough space to accommodate 500 guests and would be available to host parties and functions. The initial phase of the project started in 2011 with the necessary paperwork, the building started construction at Brentwood in September 2013 and was handed over to Yah Entertainment in 2014. Chuck E Cheese is a North American franchise that has around 470 company owned locations in the United States and Canada that incorporates the use of entertainment machines and video games. The facility also sells pizza and other fast foods.
