Since Jason Hastain and Amanda Clark opened Paradise Playdium on February 10, they have demonstrated their commitment to not only providing a fun place for kids and families to hang out but also a place that does what it can to bolster other small businesses, nonprofits, youth sports and “any organizations that are staying on to help rebuild the town.”
In the seven weeks the 7,500-square-foot family-fun center — featuring arcade games, axe throwing, virtual reality games and party rooms — has been open, the owners have donated the use of the facility’s party rooms to local youth sports teams for board meetings and team events. They’ve donated all the proceeds from one day of business and raffles to a Paradise police officer in need of financial support to help pay medical bills; served as the site for team-building events for local government and school staffs; partnered with Paradise Stronger; and are “in negotiations” with the Boys and Girls Club about offering summer programs.
“We’re here to support the community in any way we can,” said Hastain. “We’re going to say yes to just about everything that supports the community.”
Both Clark and Hastain lost their family homes in the Camp Fire, and both chose to stay because “Paradise is our home” and because they want to see the community thrive again.
The two first connected through a community Facebook page and discovered a common interest: creating more things for kids and families to do on the Paradise ridge. They met for the first time in September of 2021 at the Starbucks and began brainstorming. They continued to meet, texted constantly and created shared spreadsheets until they had both a business plan and a plan of action — and then, they set about doing everything it would take to get their business venture up and running including establishing a corporation, securing a location and purchasing all the games and equipment for Paradise Playdium.
“One of our goals is also to kick start the economy,” said Clark. “We want to bring people from all around to Paradise to have fun at Playdium and enjoy our shops and restaurants.”
Playdium, located in the True Value Hardware Shopping Center at 6848 Skyway, is open Thursdays through Sundays and staffed by nine part-time employee as well as Hastain and Clark. The fun center is also open on days when schools are closed during the regular school year. These non-regular business day openings as well as special events, last minute specials, updates and information about new things in the works are posted on the Playdium Facebook page.
While the facility doesn’t offer food or drinks, families are encouraged to bring their own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. To help make event planning easier for folks renting one of the party rooms, which are already booked out to May, Playdium’s website offers the opportunity to order and have delivered specialty cupcakes from Stepanoff Sweet Treats, an “amazing gourmet baker in Magalia,” and balloon creations, arches, gifts and party decor from local business Poptastic.
“We don’t mark up any of the products from Stepanoff or Poptastic when people order through our website,” said Clark. “It’s just another service we offer to our customers and another way we can support other local businesses.”
The owners say that since its opened, Playdium has stayed consistently busy on the weekends, and the community has been “extremely supportive” of the new business.
“In the last month, we’ve taken on a lot, more than most new businesses would take on in a year,” said Hastain. “We plan to continue to accelerate that pace as we move forward.”
Related Articles
It’s all in the tea leaves | It’s Your Business
Klean Kanteen partners to expand reach | It’s Your Business
Clothes, bakery treats to make people happy | It’s Your Business
Portrait photographer opens dream studio | It’s Your Business
Days of wine and proses at Villavino’s book club | It’s Your Business
Moving forward includes changing out arcade games fairly regularly to keep things new and exciting for customers and expanding the facility within the next two months to add bumper cars and laser tag. Hastain and Clark are also applying for a license to serve beer.
“Ultimately, we’re planning to keep on being a positive force in the community,” said Hastain. “We’re going to keep supporting every one in every way we can and keep doing that for as long as we’re around.”
Reach Kyra Gottesman at [email protected].
+ There are no comments
Add yours