Detroit — Laughter rang out through the Museum of Illusions Detroit one recent afternoon as visitors worked to solve puzzles and stepped into reality-defying exhibits.

In one display, guests appeared to climb or fall from a theater resembling the Majestic, the illusion created by a large angled overhead mirror.

Gwyn Wagschal, 67, of Fenton watched as her granddaughter, Frankie Steele, 7, pretended to scale the marquee, defying gravity. The visit was more than just a day out for the pair — it was part of Wagschal’s effort to enrich her granddaughter’s homeschooling experience.

“We want more experiences and more adventure,” she said. “We don’t want to be sitting at home.”

Across Metro Detroit and the country, the shift is playing out in real time: a growing number of people are seeking hands-on, immersive experiences and developers are answering that call with more experiential venues. In addition to the Museum of Illusions Detroit, which opened on Woodward Avenue in December, Cosm Detroit in downtown is expected to open later this year and offer and immersive venue that combines sports, entertainment and technology into a shared viewing experience.

“Consumers are increasingly drawn to experiences that offer something they can’t replicate online — whether that’s social interaction, discovery or hands-on engagement,” said Stephanie Cegielski, vice president of research and public relations for ICSC, a retail trade organization.

Slick City Action Park Troy opened its doors last week to hundreds of guests seeking thrills on the dry slides, zip lines and other activities. Other concepts that opened last year are Game Show Battle Rooms in Troy, which allows visitors to step into game show-style competitions with family and friends, while Sandbox VR in Royal Oak offers immersive virtual reality gameplay.

Responses from operators suggest a strong appetite among Metro Detroit audiences for interactive and immersive entertainment.

“It surprises me, the velocity at which it moved,” said Andy Levey, chief marketing officer for the Museum of Illusions, adding that Saturdays continue to sell out. The Detroit location was the company’s 67th location.

“We knew it would be successful, but the pace and consistency of that has surprised me,” he said, adding that people want to get out and have a break away from the norm. “The bar is high. When you go out, and you’re going to spend 60, 90 minutes, two hours, you want something to have that wow factor.”

Venues evolve into ‘third places’

Across the United States, there is growth in a wide range of experience-focused concepts, including boutique fitness, interactive entertainment, social gaming, fitness classes and community-driven spaces that blend retail with technology, personalized experiences and events, Cegielski said.

Many venues, she said, are evolving into “third places,” destinations that combine shopping, dining and entertainment to encourage people to gather and stay longer. Research firm Technavio estimates the global experiential retail market will grow by about $133.5 billion between 2025 and 2030.

Cegielski said there is no specific data tied to Metro Detroit, but noted the region is following the same trajectory seen nationwide.

“For example, recent openings like Slick City Action Park highlight that experiential retail is growing in the region, as properties respond to rising consumer demand for more engaging, in-person experiences,” she said.

Some of these places take up former mall retail spaces. For example, Round1 Bowling & Arcade is expected to open soon, replacing a portion of a former Sears store at Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi.

“Developers and landlords are investing in experiential concepts because they drive foot traffic, increase dwell time and encourage repeat visits,” Cegielski said.

Slick City Action Park in Troy is Toby Buechner’s latest venture, drawing from his 20-plus years of experience with kid-friendly spaces, including the nearby Troy Gym.

He purchased and expanded an existing building on Crooks Road for the franchise opportunity. The result was transforming an underused former industrial space into an indoor amusement center with 20 attractions, including slides, zip lines, trapeze swings, activity courts and a junior jungle.

“You got to be able to adapt and evolve,” Buechner said.

Kristy Ladina, 34, of Redford Township, brought her 6-year-old son, Dominic, to Slick City Action Park Troy for its opening day to celebrate his birthday, along with his cousin and a friend.

“It’s something that they can do and run around,” she said. “They’re not on their tablets or on their cellphones.”

She said her family also visits places like Ninja Kidz Action Park in Westland and Big Best in Games in Ypsilanti. It’s a good alternative to electronic devices, she said: “I think a lot of people are trying to find things to do with their kids that are outside of their home.

“They just, especially in colder months, they just want to sit on their tablet or watch TV or TikTok or whatever. So it’s nice to be able to get them somewhere where I have all of their phones in my pocket.”

Games go back to the future

Also in Troy, the competitive crowd can compete at Game Show Battle Rooms. The Troy location on W. Big Beaver opened in November and features its own versions of popular game shows.

“Think about the games that if you were at home, sick from school, drinking a Vernors, having some chicken noodle soup, sitting there watching different people,” Phill Harmer, general manager of Game Show Battle Rooms Detroit. “We play games based off of those.”

While the company cannot use the official names, two of the games, based on Harmer’s description, have a similar objective to “Family Feud” and “The Price Is Right.” Guests play three sets of games with their own host and tech producer, surrounded by full lights, sounds and interactive effects.

The venue is designed for team-building events, birthdays, family gatherings or just for fun, Harmer said. The rooms are privately booked, so participants compete against friends, family, or coworkers rather than strangers. The games really resonate with the older crowd, he said.

“They love the nostalgia and the competition with their families,” he said, adding that weekends are fully booked through Memorial Day. The company updates its game content every two months to keep repeat visitors coming back for new games, he said.

While Game Show Battle Rooms offers players a game show experience, Sandbox VR in Royal Oak offers a video game virtual reality experience.

Sandbox VR also opened in November. Its spot on Main Street was chosen for its central location and proximity to entertainment and places to eat, said Ryan Koster, the general manager of the Royal Oak location.

The venue uses full-body motion tracking and high-quality haptic vests, allowing players to physically move through the game and feel interactions as they happen.

“It’s complete immersion,” Koster said. “It’s not possible with the home VR systems. It’s just kind of that next level up. There’s no joysticks when you’re playing. You’re actually moving around in the room. You’re moving around in the game. So it really does kind of transform you into a whole different world.”

Kids today are growing up immersed in technology, making venues like Sandbox VR a natural evolution, Koster said: “This really is just kind of that next step up. They’re going to be bragging to their friends about, but it’s just such a cool experience. It’s so different than everything out there.”

There are 10 total games available at the location, including Netflix-themed experiences like “Stranger Things: Catalyst,” “Squid Game,” and “Rebel Moon,” as well as original games like the “Deadwood” series, with new ones added over time to keep visitors coming back, Koster said.

Heading for downtown

Immersive experiences are also expanding in downtown Detroit where, just in time for the fall NFL season, Cosm Detroit is expected to open. Construction on the project, which broke ground in April 2025, is well underway on the building at Cadillac Square, which will feature an LED dome.

Corey Breton, head of venues at Cosm, said the building’s architecture and details are being designed with Rosetti and Bedrock to intentionally reflect Detroit’s vibes and character.

Once complete, visitors will be able to experience live events through high-tech displays inside the 500-seat venue, giving them a courtside, field-side or pitch-side feel, Breton said.

“Most folks will ask us, are you a venue or are you kind of a bar?” he said. “What’s the differentiation between Cosm and what experience we provide versus other spots. I always say we’re not a bar, we’re not a restaurant, we’re not a venue. We’re just Cosm, and our role, our goal, is to kind of transport fans to the best seats across all the major marquee events throughout the globe.”

MILWAUKEE – A person of interest remains in custody following a fatal shooting on Water Street that left one person dead and two others injured early Sunday.

The Milwaukee Police Department says 22-year-old Dylan Jackson was killed. An 18-year-old and a 19-year-old were also injured.

Local perspective:

Before the shooting, a bar manager says the area was already chaotic.

Tim Sluga, general manager of Duke’s on Water, said problems were brewing outside the bars before shots were fired. He said he was working Saturday night into Sunday morning and feared violence would occur.

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“Chaos. It was just chaos outside,” said Sluga. “The pistol whippings, the shootings, everything else. The street was already chaos when that happened.”

Sluga said he was working Saturday night into Sunday morning and feared violence would occur.

“My reaction in general that night was, ‘here we go again,’” said Sluga. “It’s sadly not surprising.”

Sluga said the violence over the weekend reflects a recurring problem in the entertainment district.

Dig deeper:

Last July, city leaders held an emergency meeting after increased violence in the area. Police later announced plans to increase their presence and curb loitering.

Sluga said he expected more enforcement.

“We were told by MPD there was going to be a curfew enforced this year, we didn’t see that this weekend,” said Sluga.

Some patrons say they are also frustrated.

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“It’s like the younger crowd pushing out the older crowd now. If you ain’t 21, there’s no reason for you to be down here,” said Dequan Cave of Milwaukee.

Sluga said bars themselves are generally safe, but problems occur outside.

“It’s a great place and there’s a lot of really good people,” said Sluga. “These are just issues that are out of our control.”

What’s next:

MPD said a Code Red deployment focused on safety in the entertainment district was in place over the weekend. Police also say plans may be modified to improve downtown safety.

Auto thefts continue to rise in Minneapolis, and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) said thieves are increasingly using new technology to steal cars without ever needing the owner’s key.

Minneapolis car thefts spike in 2026, St. Paul sees continued decline

According to MPD’s Crime Dashboard, 66 vehicles have been reported stolen in the city since March 20. The dashboard also shows auto thefts are up 26% compared to this time in 2025.

One of those victims is a Minneapolis man named Travis, who shared home surveillance video of his car pulling out of his driveway.

“I seen that car backed out and my keys were still in the house. Already knew someone stole the car,” he said.

He ran to a neighbor’s home, where more camera footage showed “two guys walking through the alley going toward my car.”

He said a family member eventually connected him to people who knew the teens involved.

“He called me back like an hour later, and he was like he figured out who got my car. They were asking for money. They wanted me to give them $1,500 just for them to tell me the location where my car was.”

Travis said the teens sent him photos and videos of the car’s surroundings.

“They were sending me pictures of where the car was parked, what’s around the car.”

He and several relatives spent hours comparing the images to real locations.

“Me and a few other family members and a few friends, we run around and start driving around looking for the car off of the videos that they sent us.”

By 10 p.m. Friday, they found it in an apartment parking lot.

“As soon as I hit the car starter on the car, the car started right up. The first thing was just jump in the car and pull the car up out of there.”

But the damage was extensive, and he said the loss of sentimental items hurt the most.

“They threw out my son’s car seat. They threw out like programs from funerals and stuff. They broke my sunroof. They broke my windshield.”

He said the theft has been hard on his family.

“It’s kind of hard, you know, because I have a 4‑year‑old son. They threw his stuff out. That kind of messed me up.”

According to MPD, non‑Kia and non‑Hyundai vehicles stolen without keys are up nearly 60% compared to this time last year. Kia and Hyundai thefts, where thieves peel or punch the ignition, are also rising.

MPD said the city is also seeing signs of a nationwide trend involving key‑programming devices. These are tools that can reprogram a car to start without the owner’s key. Officers have recovered these devices during recent arrests, including one case involving a 13‑year‑old.

The department says a relatively small group of individuals is responsible for a significant share of auto thefts in the city. MPD also said it does not have a dedicated auto‑theft unit, and that there are fewer property-crime investigators now than in 2020. A new pilot program uses forensic scientists to process stolen vehicles for evidence.

Travis said he gave officers everything he found, the videos, the photos, the social‑media accounts, but felt the department didn’t respond the way he hoped.

“Basically, they didn’t do anything. All they say is they’re juveniles and ain’t too much they could do. Even if they catch them, they lock them up, they’ll get right back out.”

He believes the teens who stole his car have real technical skill.

“What I seen how y’all started my car and everything like that, y’all could really be out here and take that and really make some good money. Plenty of people out here that lost their car keys. You could be making hundreds of dollars programming car keys to people.”

He said the experience has changed how he lives.

“I’m definitely nervous. Now I gotta move different. Make sure my car locked up at night, make sure it’s safe, upgrade my security a little bit more.”

He’s keeping the car at a relative’s house until he can repair the damage.

“I didn’t feel safe. They took my garage keys and everything out of the car.”

Travis said he hopes the teens who stole his car understand the impact on families.

“People have kids, people have family out here. People go out every day, they work. If they came to me and was like hey, we need a few dollars, I’ll give you a few dollars instead of coming and just taking my car that I gotta get to work and get my son to day care.”

He also hopes they choose a different path.

“Just find something else to do with your time,” he said. “Something really bad could happen to y’all.”

The Minneapolis Police Department provided the following responses to KSTP’s questions:

Are the recent increases concentrated in any specific precincts or neighborhoods?

• We are compiling data that will likely be available tomorrow. Auto thefts are occurring in all five precincts with the largest recent increase occurring in the Second Precinct.

Is MPD able to share the percentage of auto‑theft cases that have been solved or cleared so far this year?

• That will need to be a data request. I will see what I can find out. 

Does MPD have any updated prevention guidance for residents, especially with the rise in key‑programming technology?

• Car manufacturers are the best source for prevention guidance related to newer technologies used to steal vehicles. In addition to locking your vehicle, removing valuables from plain sight, never leaving a key fob inside or near your vehicle, and never leaving a vehicle running unoccupied, manufacturers also recommend storing key fobs in RFID-blocking cases and keeping them away from doors and windows.

What is the department’s response to people who feel they need to track down their own stolen vehicles, or who feel MPD isn’t doing enough to help them recover their cars?

• Auto theft has a significant impact on victims, and having a vehicle stolen is frustrating and personal. To date, there have been approximately 1,400 auto thefts, compared to 2,190 during the same period in 2023. While that represents a meaningful decline, auto theft remains an ongoing concern.
• Many stolen vehicles are recovered, and both investigators and patrol officers are actively working to address these cases alongside other public safety priorities. Technology has played an important role. License Plate Readers, both fixed and mobile units in squad cars, have helped officers locate stolen vehicles and, in some cases, make arrests.
• We recognize that some vehicle owners have access to tracking technology and may be able to provide real-time location information. That information can be valuable to officers. However, we strongly urge individuals not to approach or attempt to recover their vehicle on their own.
• If a stolen vehicle is located and occupied, individuals should not approach and should call 911 immediately. If the vehicle is unoccupied, they should notify police of its location and wait for officers to respond. For safety and evidentiary reasons, the vehicle should not be moved until it has been officially reported as recovered.

Editor’s note: The video says the victim’s car was stolen on Saturday, but it was actually Friday.