Page 39 - BusinessWest July 7, 2021

Jeff Bujack is happy that customers can once again access his collection of vintage video games at Prodigy.
other areas.
It’s yet another step in emerging from what
has been a challenging 16 months, to say the least. But with the state lifting all pandemic restrictions on gathering sizes and mask wearing at the end of May, this is also an optimistic time for these facilities that are eagerly welcoming back families grateful for something to do.
Leveling Down
Prodigy doesn’t easily fit into a business cat- egory because it offers its customers the chance to play mini-golf, vintage video games, and even board games. Located in the Eastworks mill com- plex, Prodigy occupies 8,000 square feet, with 14-foot high ceilings, industrial fans, and win- dows that open to the outside.
“At that time, there was huge
fear about going near anyone
and staying away from enclosed
environments. I was concerned
could only operate at 25% capacity.
“We spaced everyone out by using every other
lane,” she said. “It was slow in the beginning, and we didn’t even hit our 25% capacity numbers.”
Once the calendar turned to 2021, Blais said business began to pick up, and Spare Time began to reach its limited capacity. As more employees returned, she held an orientation for them on how to operate during a pandemic that’s not yet over.
“In short, it involved much more work than usual, and my team was all in for it,” she said. Much of the extra work concerned lots of sanitiz-
ing, including every bowling ball in the place.” While extra cleaning was part of the mandate
to reopen, all the managers BusinessWest spoke
with agreed that the emphasis on cleaning went ”
a long way toward helping customers feel safe. “For the most part, we were doing our normal cleaning, but we did it more often,” O’Brien said.
“People loved seeing us constantly cleaning.” Doty concurred. “Now that hyper-cleaning
has become second nature, I don’t see us chang- ing things,” he said, adding that his crews use
a fogger/mister to clean the trampoline courts as well as additional handheld sprayers to clean
forever and not come back.
While disappointed that his business was con- sidered an arcade by state standards, Bujak was able to open last summer because indoor mini- golf courses were allowed to operate. He could not offer play on the video games, however, due to limits on arcades.
that people might stay afraid
SPORTS & LEISURE
JULY 7, 2021 39
Staff Photo
BusinessWest