Come pandemic or floods, there’s no way Play Back Gympie is going down without a fight.
Based on Mary Street, local husband and wife duo Trevor and Aisha Belling have been through it all. However, despite all the challenges that face a new business, they’re celebrating their third birthday on the 23rd of this month.
“We opened up in 2019 in September, and then three months later, as we all know, worldwide pandemic which is tough for anyone in business, because it’s not something you plan for at all,” Aisha said.
“I don’t think a worldwide pandemic is in anyone’s business plan.”
But fear not, as the resourceful couple implemented their flood plan in place of this unexpected upheaval of the world.
“Our original building was in the flood zone,” she said.
“So we had a pretty solid flood plan, thinking you know, act as if a flood is coming and we’re going to be out of action for so long.”
In their short time, they were nominated for six business awards by the Gympie Chamber of Commerce.
Being shortlisted for two of them came as a welcome and exciting shock for Trevor and Aisha.
“From the moment we opened, the support of the Gympie community has been unbelievably fantastic,” she said.
“We’ve just been able to grow and grow and grow the business constantly thanks to them.
“Those in the community who have followed us right from the moment that we started, have seen where all the investment has gone.
“All the money just gets constantly poured back in to do different, better things.”
There was a cry for a local business that catered to gaming fanatics or enthusiasts of all ages, with the closest arcade located an hour or so drive to the Sunshine Coast.
“When our kids sort of got to that teenage age we were like, no we’ve got to have something, because we’re so tired of travelling out of town to go to Timezone and all those sorts of places,” Aisha said.
“We can’t be the only family in Gympie that is sick of travelling.”
Play Back have only just begun, and it looks like the Gympie community will have quite a few surprises coming their way.
“I love surprises, so being able to give the community a surprise when it happens is sort of like, oh by the way – bam here’s your new thing,” she said.
Play Back is located on 107 Mary Street and are back open after the floods. For all your gaming and Pop Culture needs, Trevor and Aisha have you sorted.
