Iconic central Adelaide entertainment venue Mega Fast Karts in Richmond announces forced closure after T2D seizure

A beloved family-run entertainment venue will be forced to shut its doors next month after more than three decades of trading.

The owners of a beloved, family operated entertainment venue in central Adelaide have announced they’ve been forced to close their doors for good, ending more than three decades of trading.

Aaron Thompson, owner of Mega Fast Karts in Richmond, confirmed to The Advertiser his family owned and operated business would cease trading on November 3, marking the end of 35 years of fun.

In June, The Advertiser revealed the entertainment venue, which is home to an indoor go kart track, dodgem cars, arcade games and laser skirmish, was at risk of closing for good if they couldn’t secure funding from the state government to finance the move to a new location to make way for the Torrens to Darlington project.

Mr Thompson said it would cost more than $1m to set up shop somewhere else – including kitting out a new workshop with a bitumen track, and setting up laser skirmish – but the government won’t pay for the business to relocate.

Mega Fast Karts Richmond owner Aaron Thompson at his business which will cease trading next month. Picture: Dean Martin

“The government has a ruling when it comes to business acquisitions – they’ll do whatever is cheaper, whether that’s to relocate you or to close you down,” he said.

“The cost to close us is a lot less than it is to relocate us.”

That fear became a reality for Mr Thompson, who gave up his home to support this business during the pandemic, when the government only agreed to pay a third of what it would cost the business to move.

General manager of the venue March Cuch, who has worked at the business for the past 10 years, on Wednesday told The Advertiser 21 employees at the venue would need to look for new employment.

“Myself included,” he said. “It’s really sad. We have so many people come in here from all over, just yesterday we had a group of 50 children with special needs in through our laser skirmish.

Mr Thompson urged the government to dig deep to save the venue, among a string of closures among similar businesses. Picture: Dean Martin

“We actually had a new location and a lease ready to go, but it all just took too long.”

In June, Mr Thompson urged the government to dig deep to save the venue, among a string of closures among similar businesses.

“The whole point of the business is that it brings smiles to people,” he said.

“We don’t have a lot of entertainment centres in Adelaide because people don’t realise how expensive they are to run.

“We’re here to make people happy, they come to have a great time and people need that.”

Mr Cuch thanked the members of the public who have supported Mega Fast Karts over the years.

“Thank you all for the support and well wishes,” he said.

“We wish you well as you find somewhere else to spend your time. We’re just as sad as you are.”

Originally published as Iconic central Adelaide entertainment venue Mega Fast Karts in Richmond announces forced closure after T2D seizure