An all-new FEC with 132 games and a 650-seater restaurant has been opened in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, US.
The new venture, which comes at a time of deep Covid-19 depression for the US amusement venues market, is the brainchild of partners Dave Drouillard, Tom Masters and Steve Petrie.
The location is themed on a mineshaft and is therefore appropriately named The Mineshaft and is in a purpose-built all-new construction.
The games room is mostly ticket-redemption games, all linked to an Intercard cashless system, taking up 15,000sq.ft of the 40,000sq.ft. of the entire venue. A bakery is planned for the future. The theming is very much one of repurposed timber and furniture hand-made by local Amish craftsmen.
The partners were all deeply involved in the planning and fitting out of the venue. Dave Drouillard, although living in Florida, spent much of the past few months in Wisconsin helping with the plans. He has a background in the distribution of games. Tom Masters is a restaurateur and the brains behind the huge dining area while Steve Petrie is an investor but still very much involved in the development.
“We have an ideal location with little competition and a good catchment area," said Drouillard. "It is very much a facility for the local community and although we only opened on July 6, we have seen a great deal of enthusiasm from the locals.”
Pictured: Dave Drouillard with his wife, Ana Paula, at the reception area of The Mineshaft.
