New fun center in Creston emphasizes ‘family’

For owners Wayne and Alicia Feldhacker, the most important word in their new business's title is "family."

When the couple opened Family Fun Center Sept. 19 at 301 N. Cherry St. in Creston, they did it with the intention of providing a place where all ages could have some fun.

“That’s the purpose, that’s what our desire is, that’s what our hopes are,” Wayne said, “that we could create a place where families could enjoy things together.”

Wayne, owner of Feldhacker Contracting LLC, and Alicia, who manages the company’s office, said over the years they have seen a need in Creston for places where local children could have something to do. When Panther Lanes came up for sale, they saw their chance to make that happen.

“We came in, looked at it, pondered and talked to the Lord,” Alicia said, “and it was like, ‘It’s time.’”

The Feldhackers bought the building in June, and the work began. Wayne brought in companies to refurbish the bowling lanes and fix the pinsetter machines. The Feldhackers knocked out a wall in the northwest corner of the building and moved the arcade area into that space. Wayne is currently working on finishing birthday party rooms on the south end of the building.

The center's arcade now features 14 video gaming machines, ranging from "Pac-Man" to extreme racing, as well as an air hockey table, foosball table, dartboard, claw machine and two pool tables. The center also offers free wireless Internet, which Alicia said several Creston Schools students have already come in to use with their new school-issued Chromebooks.

Family Fun Center’s concession stand offers pizza, nachos, hot dogs and a variety of fried foods. But there’s one thing you won’t find on the menu: alcohol. The Feldhackers and their assistant manager, Jack Willis, say this omission, which helps keep a family environment, has helped, not hurt, business.

“We’ve had kids — teenage kids — coming in and saying they can start coming back in here now because they don’t have to deal with people drinking,” Willis said.

So far, Family Fun Center’s advertising strategy has been word of mouth and its huge white signs with red lettering. And so far, the Feldhackers say it’s working.

“For the little advertising we’ve been doing, we’ve had a lot of kids and families come in on the weekends,” Alicia said.

On Friday and Saturday nights from 9 to 11, the center holds a black-light “Cosmic Glow Bowl” special with unlimited bowling for $15. The center will soon also offer birthday party rooms, and the Feldhackers also have ideas for putting in a laser maze.

“We want to add some things to the facility,” Wayne said. “It could involve an expansion on the building. We’re not exactly sure how all that’s going to unfold yet.”

To keep up with Family Fun Center events and updates, like the “Family Fun Center” page on Facebook.