The owners of Playland Entertainment Arcade on The Strand are searching for the right person to take over the business.

Owner John Cassidy opened the arcade in November 2024, with the intention of creating something for the town that didn’t already exist.

“This place brings families and extended family together,” Mr Cassidy said.

“It is a great place to meet, greet and catch up, and you can also have some fun.

“There’s been nothing like this in Whakatāne in around 20 years.”

He launched the business with help from his son, Jaden, who manages the arcade day-to-day.

The pair initially planned to run the business for around 12 months before passing it on to someone else who could continue building on what they had started.

The time has arrived.

Jaden is preparing to return to Australia at the end of March, while Mr Cassidy and his wife remain based in Tauranga.

With travel between the two towns proving difficult long-term, the family hopes a local owner will step forward.

“We’ve made it known that we’re here to provide a venue for birthdays and everything else,” said Mr Cassidy.

“It’s hard for me to just close the doors, I hope we can pass it over to somebody that’s capable and motivated.”

“I strongly believe that our arcade plays a vital role in the community and that it’s essential to keep it open,” Jaden said.

“Not only does it provide a safe and welcoming environment for families and individuals, it also offers opportunities for socialisation, education, and skill-building.”

The arcade includes a large range of machines, interactive games and a prize system designed to appeal to children, teenagers, and adults alike.

“Our arcade has received universally positive feedback from the community, with people from all walks of life visiting and enjoying our facilities,” said Jaden.

“We’ve had grandparents bringing their grandchildren, parents competing against each other on our air hockey tables, and even hosted events for local schools and organisations.”

One memorable visit involved 25 children from the Busy Buddyz after-school programme, who spent the afternoon at the arcade.

“They had an absolute blast,” Jaden said.

“Seeing kids come in and enjoy themselves like that really shows what this place can offer the community.”

Another memorable occasion was when a TV crew hired the arcade for two hours and spoke only te reo Maori while filming.

The arcade has also supported local education initiatives. Jaden said they had worked closely with Trident High School to provide work placement opportunities for students with disabilities.

“It’s a space that is all-inclusive and welcoming,” Mr Cassidy said.

“We’ll have a birthday party here and the parents who come often haven’t seen each other for a while. They say, ‘this is cool.’

“It’s set up so you can relax while the kids are occupied.”

As well as the birthday party room, there is a parents’ corner with couches where adults can relax while children are entertained. Despite economic pressures affecting many businesses, Mr Cassidy said the arcade had performed well and remained a viable opportunity for someone looking to step into a ready-to-run operation.

He said the ideal new owner was someone who valued the community aspect as much as the business itself.

“We’d love someone to take over who cares about the town and sees the bigger picture,” Mr Cassidy said.

“It’s a very easy business to get your head around, it’s easy to run and function. And there’s plenty of room to grow and get creative with what’s already here.”

Reflecting on the past year, Jaden said the support from the community had made the venture worthwhile.

“I’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the wonderful families and community members who’ve supported us,” he said. “It’s been an incredible experience.”

To find out more, email [email protected], or head to the website: www.playlandentertainment.co.nz.