GameRoom Essentials at Gepps Cross shut down by Port Adelaide Enfield Council

A POPULAR games arcade that attracted hundreds of people a week to play classic video games and pinball machines from the 1980s and 90s has been shut down by council building inspectors.

Pinball Wizard

A POPULAR games arcade that attracted hundreds of people a week to play classic video games and pinball machines from the 1980s and 90s has been shut down by council building inspectors.

GameRoom Essentials at Gepps Cross was visited by council inspectors who deemed the building was a fire risk and not suitable for the business.

Owner Danny Daly is devastated that this week he was forced to close the business he built from scratch after he was made redundant from Holden.

After a tough start — including the shattering blow of having $30,000 worth of pinball machines stolen by thieves — the business was growing in popularity, regularly attracting hundreds of people a week and being listed on major travel website Trip Advisor as a “top Adelaide attraction”.

Mr Daly said he offered to comply with the City of Port Adelaide Enfield inspectors’ requirements but was told “don’t waste your time and money”.

He was forced to cancel children’s birthday parties at late notice and said the situation was “heartbreaking”.

“I said I would fix anything that needed to be done but they were not interested,” he said.

“I had a birthday party for a 10-year-old later that day ... I said I would move the machines to the car park so they could play the games.

“They refused and said that I would have to provide toilets. I said I would hire toilets and they refused again.”

Mr Daly is now trying to find a new building to house the business but as he is unable to trade, it will be a struggle to raise the money to pay the rent.

Port Adelaide Enfield Council acting chief executive officer Wally Iasiello said there were serious safety issues with the building and public safety was paramount.

He also said the business did not have appropriate approval from the State Government’s Development Assessment Commission.

Safety inspectors were sent in after a complaint from a parent whose child had visited GameRoom Essentials.

“The number one priority is public safety — there were kids with disabilities using the facility and they probably need extra care,” Mr Iasiello said.

He said council would be happy to sit down with Mr Daly and work with him to try and find a suitable new location for the business.

Prospect Council has also volunteered to help find a suitable tenancy somewhere in its district.

Prospect’s business and economic development director Matt Grant said the business could boost the local economy if it chose to open in one of the council’s suburbs.

“A key focus is attracting suitable ‘destination’ type businesses to the area and GameRoom Essentials could be one of these if they are looking to relocate,” Mr Grant said.

Post by GameRoom Essentials.