A place for youth

Owners in search of a name for latest hot spot

MOSES LAKE — There's no new name on the new club next to the post office.

Maybe because there's no new name as of yet.

"Right now, we are in the 'You Name the Club' Club," said Bulldog Information Technologies owner Kurt Oberloh. "Basically, what we've done is we've opened it up and given it to the community to have them come in, take a look at what we have to offer and name us."

The winner will be announced at the club's April 7 grand opening, and will get their picture on the wall, a plaque and a prize package.

With wife Jalene, Kurt and Dan and Lisa Gregory, owners of Hot Looks, a downtown retailer, have formed the company Simple Entertainment, which owns what they're hoping will be the next hot spot for resident youth.

"We're giving the youth something to do," Kurt said. "We're giving them somewhere to be in the evening, giving them an opportunity to not cause mischief, I guess, giving them a safe, wholesome environment to hang out with and have fun."

Jalene grew up in the area, and said she saw a need for area youth to have a place to go.

"Oh yeah, I know how much trouble I got into in high school," she said.

In talking with Dan Gregory, Kurt said they decided something had to be done.

"We said, 'We've got to give these kids something better to do,'" he said. "And this is our answer to that something better. This is something the community really needed, this is something the community really wanted."

Kurt said putting in and owning a family fun center in Moses Lake has been a longtime dream for him. He and Gregory started talking about it in the fall of last year, found out the building, located at 306 S. Beech St., was available in December and began the planning process in January.

The new club opened Saturday. Kurt estimated about 200 youths were on site the first night.

Offerings include a tube room for children 10 years of age and under, which will eventually include a petting zoo; 80 to 100 video games, a third of which are already on site; a dance floor that will boast dance nights featuring different blends of music; 10 computers to host LAN parties; pool tables, air hockey, virtual reality games and rock wall climbing. The center will also offer concessions and party packages.

It's an opportunity to offer variety in a community where there's not really a lot of things for youth to do, Kurt said, stressing there's no cover charge to enter the building.

The club is open seven days a week, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 3 p.m. to midnight or later Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight or later Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

"Basically, Friday and Saturday night, we're going to close when the party's over," Kurt said. "If people start leaving, then we're going to close, but if we're still hopping at 1 o'clock, then we're going to offer them that variety that they're needing."

The Oberlohs and Gregorys will maintain their other operations in addition to the club.

While presently operating with 10 family members, Oberloh said additional staff will probably be picked up in the summer time.

For more information on the club, call Kurt or Jalene Oberloh at (509) 765-4849.