The Renton Senior Activity Center is hoping to draw in some new members by trying something they’ve never done before: evening hours.

Beginning this month, the center will stay open on Wednesdays until 9 p.m., instead of closing at 5 p.m. like it does the other days.

According to Senior Center Director Shawn Daly, the decision to keep the doors open a little longer came in response to a survey that showed residents would like the facility to stay open later.

“Obviously, more and more people – including seniors – are working during the day,” Daly said.

The hope, according to Daly, is that the extended evening hours provide an opportunity for the newly retired and the about-to-retire to visit the facility and get involved.

To help spur a younger crowd, the senior center hosted a retirement planning seminar on Oct. 8 and again this past Wednesday. Additional seminars are planned for future Wednesday evenings as well.

Most of the facilities will be open during the extended hours, though the kitchen, coffee bar and computer room will be closed. Daly said they hope to get computer classes in during the evenings in the future.

But aside from those three items, the rest of the center’s facilities will be available, from the pool room to card room to the TV room and even the fitness center, though there is a $1 charge to use the fitness center.

Two staff members will be on hand Wednesday evenings and though Daly said the additional staffing would show up in the center’s budget, there is presently enough room in the budget and enough demand for the additional hours to make it work.

“It’s something that’s really new to us,” Daly said. “I think it’s really going to take off.”

The Renton Senior Activity Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information, call 425-430-6633