Harkins Theaters, a 90-year-old movie theater brand, has partnered with The Culinary Edge consultancy to create The Backlot, a new family entertainment center in Phoenix, Ariz.
The Culinary Edge, a San Francisco-based consultancy that has worked with such brands as Sweetgreen, Starbucks, and First Watch, helped create The Backlot’s Studio Canteen, a full-service dining venue.
The Backlot launched in July at The Shops at Norterra in North Phoenix. The family entertainment center includes Hollywood theming and dining. Customers can choose from a variety of activities, from bowling lanes and darts to an arcade. The venue also includes smaller movie screens.
“Our goal was to help Harkins deliver the most juice for the least squeeze — that is, the most unforgettable and entertaining menu, for the most streamlined operational lift,” Graham Humphreys, president of The Culinary Edge, said in a statement. “By building on Harkins’ deep moviegoing legacy, we designed a destination where every menu item, every moment, and every detail invites guests into the magic behind the scenes.”
The Studio Canteen was created as a dining destination. The menu offers pizzas named for film characters, burgers, bowls and salads, and desserts.
Menu items include: an Ahi Tuna Stack, a Backlot Philly Cheesesteak, a Hangover Burger, milkshakes, and a Warm Smores Skillet Brownie.
An indoor-outdoor bar features traditional drinks, local brews, wine, cocktails, and mocktails.
Separately, The Culinary Edge collaborated on menu creation for Harkins’ dine-in theaters, ensuring consistency across platforms while meeting a range of guest occasions and preferences.
The Culinary Edge is a CORE Foodservice company.
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