First-Ever East End Escape Room Opens In Riverhead

RIVERHEAD, NY — The first-ever escape room on the East End, Escape Quest, is set to make its debut with a ribbon cutting ceremony in Riverhead on Tuesday.

Escape rooms, which have made a splash around the United States and in Europe, are popular entertainment venues where guests try to solve a puzzle and "escape" a room by looking for clues in a designated amount of time.

Town officials including Riverhead Town Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith will be onhand for the grand opening ceremony at Escape Quest, located at 120 West Main Street, on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.

Escape Quest is a real-life adventure quest, where teammates discover clues, solve puzzles, and crack codes to one of four escape rooms including Poseidon’s Jewel and Mysterious Mansion.

According to business co-owner Saulius Truncinskas of Flanders, the concept of the game is to escape the room — players have been locked in — in 60 minutes or less by finding clues, riddles, and keys.

"Also, you are being watched on video surveillance cameras by our game host, who is there to help. The players have three hints — all they have to do is to ask," he said.

Trucinskas said Escape Quest offers four different games such as Explorer's Adventure, recommended for ages 8 and over; Poseidon’s Jewel, recommended for ages 12 and over; Mysterious Mansion, for ages 12 and over, and Cannibal Lair, ages 16 and over.

"Our games might be a lot of fun for senior citizens, as well," Trucinskas said, adding that safety of patrons in the facility is the top priority.

The escape room will be the first on the East End, which was why Riverhead was the ideal site, Trucinskas said.

Riverhead, with its opening of new stores, apartment buildings, and other ventures, is an exciting place to be, Trucinskas said. "We decided that our business could fill the gap in lack of activities on the East End."

The idea for an escape room, he said, came from old friends Aleksey and Natalia Shtenger, so he and his wife Yulia Menshova decided to partner with the Shtenger family and give it a try, he said.

“We’re excited to welcome not just a new business to our growing Main Street district, but a new activity that will expand the entertainment Riverhead has to offer. Escape Quest will complement our restaurants and businesses, for families or couples looking for something fun and different," Jens-Smith said.

Added Riverhead Town Deputy Supervisor and liaison to the Business Improvement District Tim Hubbard: “I look forward to the opening of yet another popular form of entertainment for the downtown business district.”

Escape Quest will be open six days a week, Tuesday through Thursday from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.; Friday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.

For additional information, visit the Escape Quest website here.

Patch photos courtesy Saulius Truncinskas.