The Xfinity store in Federal Way doesn’t usually smell like pizza or echo with the sound of kids comparing notes on which Minion is the funniest. On July 2, though, it did both.
The occasion was a free community event hosted by Comcast NBCUniversal in partnership with El Centro de la Raza, treating Federal Way families to a night out. Buses picked families up at El Centro de la Raza and brought them to the Xfinity store, where the party was already in full swing. Families received their movie tickets as soon as they walked in, and kids were presented with Minion & Monster movie-themed Xfinity gift bags. A face-painting artist was on hand to get everyone in the spirit of the movie, and Xfinity staff hid monsters via QR codes throughout the store for kids to track down, with prizes for those who found them all. Pizza and snacks rounded things out, all before anyone had even left for the theater.
Extra Xfinity staff were also on hand throughout the evening, not just to keep the pizza and games running smoothly, but to field questions from parents about Xfinity and Comcast’s products and services, including same-day Wi-Fi delivery for new customers. Between the face painting and the monster hunt, there was plenty of time for those conversations to happen naturally, without anyone feeling rushed or pressured.
Xfinity store manager Nate Davies said he signed his store up for the event the moment he heard about the opportunity, and by the time families had filled the place, it was clear why. “We have a lot of families, and everyone is having fun,” Davies said. “It’s great, especially with the partnership with El Centro de la Raza.”
A Partnership That Keeps Growing
The event didn’t come out of nowhere. Comcast and El Centro de la Raza have been working together for years, and this was just the latest chapter. On May 15, Comcast announced a $350,000 investment and the opening of a new Lift Zone computer lab, aimed at helping South King County families build digital skills. The lab is housed right at El Centro de la Raza, putting free access to computers and the internet inside a space families already know and trust—no separate trip, no unfamiliar building, just a resource added to a place that’s already part of their routine.
“Comcast’s partnership with El Centro de la Raza is long-standing, and we continue to look for ways to support their mission because it aligns closely with our commitment to helping community members access reliable, high-speed internet,” said Jessica Bruck, manager of PR & Employee Communications at Comcast. “Bringing El Centro club members into our Xfinity Stores gives us the opportunity to introduce them to the products, services, and resources available to help them stay connected.”
For families who might not otherwise choose to spend an evening at an Xfinity store, that’s really the point of a day like this: see what’s there, ask questions, and maybe walk away knowing a little more about what’s available to them. Pairing a fun, low-pressure event with knowledgeable staff on the floor makes that a lot easier than a typical errand-run visit ever could.
Then, the Movie
Once the store had emptied its pizza boxes and the last monster had been found, the buses loaded back up—this time headed for the theater to see “Minions & Monsters,” before looping back to drop everyone home at El Centro de la Raza. It was the reward at the end of the afternoon, but by then, the families in Federal Way had already gotten the better end of the deal.
Events like this one are as much about relationship-building as they are about a single afternoon of fun. For Comcast, showing up with pizza, face paint, and a scavenger hunt is one way of making sure a store’s doors don’t feel intimidating to walk through. For El Centro de la Raza, it’s another chance to connect their community with resources—digital and otherwise—without anyone having to go looking for them. And for the families themselves, July 2 was simply a good night out, movie ticket and gift bag included.
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