Pizza Playland opens this week at Players and Spectators
The new owners of Players and Spectators at 12828 E. Sprague Ave. are expanding their family-friendly offerings. A 5,000-square-foot arcade area called Pizza Playland is scheduled to open this week, said owner Jerry Heggestad.
“We’re really excited about it,” Heggestad said. “I’ve had calls from moms asking if they can book birthday parties.”
The business is primarily known for its casino, but it also boasts a 24-lane bowling alley. The inside has been switched around so that all entertainment for adults is on the west end of the building and all the family activities are on the east end. In the past parents bringing their children bowling had to walk past the gambling tables, Heggestad said.
“Most people think it’s just gambling in here. I’m just trying to utilize it and make it a total play area for families. It’s got so much more to offer.”
He describes the play area as a Chuck E. Cheese-type arcade. There will be a full snack bar inside. “It’s meant for the younger kids, not the teenagers.”
The expansion is expected to cost about $250,000 and will create 25 new jobs. The machines in the arcade will run off tokens, which will sell for 25 cents. Most games will only require one token. “We’ve got a couple that 12-year-olds, 14-year-olds will like, and those machines will be a little more expensive.”
The machines will reward players with tickets that can be redeemed for prizes. “I wasn’t going to do it that way, but my two stepkids said ‘Well, that’s the fun of it.’ “
And Haggestad will be booking those birthday parties. He already has a half dozen every week in the bowling alley. “There’s a good market for it out there.”
A new coffee fix
A new company based in Liberty Lake has opened a unique espresso stand at 16th Avenue and Dishman-Mica Road. The small, pink building was made to look like an oversized telephone booth to play off the store’s name, Wake Up Call.
The store opened Tuesday and features coffee, iced drinks, smoothies and baked goods from the Rocket Bakery. It’s open from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. There’s also a deck and exterior seating.
“It’s our plan to work hard and make sure we’re successful at this one,” said marketing director Ryan McCauley.
The location isn’t in a heavily commercial area. “We were looking for a good location that had reasonably high traffic counts,” he said.
The business also has two mobile espresso stands in the form of Hummers, one bright red and one black. “You can’t miss them around town,” McCauley said. “They definitely turn a few heads.”
The business employs nine people, including president Christi Walsh. Walsh and her extended family members own the store.
Hummers on the run
George Gee Automotive is adding an off-road test track for Hummers to its facility in Liberty Lake. The track will be inside a 5,700-square-foot building designed to exclusively showcase the H1 and H2 Hummer models, plus the H3 scheduled for release in 2005.
George Gee also sells Pontiac, GMC and Buick at its location at 21502 E. Mission Lane. The new facility, being built by Ramey Construction, is expected to be complete in December.