Yelp Reviewers Trash New Roc

Yelp is a social media customer review web site — sort of like Zagats meets Twitter. It’s stated purpose is to “connect people with great local businesses”.

From the looks of it the naysayers are having their way with reviews of downtown New Rochelle. In particular, New Roc has been savaged in the few reviews entered over the past year.

Kathleen Y. writes “I hate this place.  As a teenager from the Bronx, I spent way too much of my life (and money) approximately 15 minutes away from home at New Roc.  Watching a terrible movie in a theater filled with annoying kids.  Eating bad food from Applebee’s.  Wasting money on video games at the arcade.  Standing in line behind families with stupid children who kept replaying the same hole in glow-in-the-dark miniature golf even though you’ve been waiting for them to leave for 15 minutes.  While there are a lot of things to do here, it’s overpriced, sometimes crowded, and the people suck.

Dennie C. writes “Well, this place has cleaned itself up as of this year setting out a rule that children cannot be in this area without an adult.  It used to be overrun with kids from the ghettos and that turned away a lot of prospective customers.  I’m not sure if it isn’t a little too late because its pretty dead and the restaurants and shops around here aren’t exactly thriving.

Miki T. writes “I hate this place. Awful people, awful atmosphere… just TOOO MANY PEOPLE!!!! …its just obnoxious teenagers yelling at people…

Chrissy F. writes “I really can’t think of a reason to go to New Roc…ever.  It’s always crowded…with pre-teens and their bling (is that the expression kids are using these days?)  Everything is overpriced.  You’re gonna wait on lines, get pushed around, pay too much (for both the event AND parking), and probably go home with a headache and a new found reason NOT to have children…

BJ B. writes “GIRD YOUR LOINS!! It’s sad when you can’t spend a weekend evening with your friends or family watching a movie or playing some games without some wild ass kids ruining the environment. When this place was first built you could go to the arcade part or watch a movie in peace. Now, unless you come here between Monday-Thursday before 8pm, you will have to deal with ghetto trash, spawn of Satan teenagers…If you’re there to watch a movie, good luck trying to hear over the crazy noise!

The only good review came back in 2005 from Ali H. who writes “One of the coolest places right outside the city. It has everythingn for a fun packed day or weekend. Great for adults and children. There is a bowling alley, Arcade, Ice rink and Regal Cinema with an IMAX theatre.”

I am heading over there Sunday to see Watchman at the IMAX. I intend to write a review because I am very happy with the theaters at New Roc. They are the best in the area by far and the only IMAX around. I certainly do try to stay away on weekend nights but love to go there during the week. The place is practically empty on Thursday nights which is a great movie night.