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Date: 11/11/2020
EASTHAMPTON – For Jeff Bujak, owner of Prodigy Minigolf and Gameroom, new coronavirus restrictions mean one thing – he will lose out on money.
The city recently reverted back to Phase 3, Step 1 of the state’s reopening plan, which requires a reduction in capacity at venues such as gyms, libraries, museums and arcades from 50 to 40 percent and the closure of others including indoor theaters and performance venues. Meanwhile, Gov. Charlie Baker issued a new order stating all Massachusetts entertainment businesses must close at 9:30 p.m.
After reopening this summer after closing during the state’s shutdown in March, Bujak said he will now have to close a half-hour earlier on the weekdays and two and a half hours earlier on the weekends.
“I definitely think small businesses are overlooked and I think they are more concerned with the large moneymakers, the big taxpayers. Again, I’m three employees here so honestly, if I fail, on the macro side of things I am nothing, I am just stardust and will drift away and get a job. It is not really going to have an effect,” he said.
Bujak reopened the doors to Prodigy the second week of July during the state’s initial advance to Phase 3, Step 1. He said immediately the place had a decent turnout and everyone was comfortable. Bujak said he asked patrons how they felt being there and if there was anything that they would suggest. Receiving no recommendations, Bujak said this suggested everyone felt safe.
Bujak said the numbers of people coming in are now decreasing. So far, his worst week since being opened was the last week of October.
“It is not good at all. I am selling fun. That is the hard part, like how do you sell fun and tell people to wear their masks and stay away from each other?” he said.
He added that, in general, people are worried about being around other people. He thinks his numbers are going down because of the constant reminder that they are open so people think the place will be busy.
“At the same time, we do have a lot of people that are not afraid at all. They come in wearing their mask, they will say they are here to play. We actually have people who come every day, that is really cool. We have memberships – so I am thankful for those people,” he said.
Since opening, Bujak shared that he has not had a profitable week and he and his business are surviving on just his savings. Last October he quit his full-time IT job to focus on Prodigy.
“I could just sell this place and go work at a job and make money again, but I have a mission here and I want to make sure it is fulfilled,” Bujak said.
Since reopening in July, he explained he wants people to come into Prodigy and relax. He said when people come in, he tells them the rules once and has gentle reminders throughout the space to remind people how to wear their mask and to stay six feet apart. Bujak said he did not want to make his place look like a grocery store with arrows and tape everywhere because he wanted it to still be a comfortable place for patrons.
Instead of putting signs that tell people where not to sit, he has taken away the chairs at the game consoles, and at the tables where board games are played. He also shut off the lights on the side of the table that people cannot sit on to maintain a six foot distance.
Due to the low number of people coming in, patrons are not in close proximity to each other, Bujak said.
“I want people to come here and have a good time, I try my absolute hardest, I invested a lot of time and money into following the regulations and to make people feel as comfortable as possible, but I am up against people telling others to stay home,” Bujak said.
He mentioned that staying inside is taking a toll on the public and getting out is important.
“Mentally it is driving them insane ... I actually work really hard to make sure things are sanitized, make sure people are spaced out, make sure people have masks on,” he said.
He added that the state is being told no groups of 10 or more so people are hanging out at home with friends with no masks on, but people can hang out at his business and actually wear a mask.
“I believe my product here resets your mind a little bit, it gets you out of the craziness, and puts you back in a time where you played video games,” Bujak said.
Bujak is passionate about keeping his business open because it is something he always wanted.
When he graduated college, he had plans of opening a nightclub in Arizona. However, when he got there, he made a few friends and found out that a band was looking for a keyboardist. Bujak plays the keyboard, so he decided to join the band. At the time he did not know that it was a touring band, and ended up touring the road for 13 years.
He said after 13 years he was getting burnt out and wanted to settle down. He then began working for a nonprofit in Northampton. Bujak said he still had an urge to own his own business, and in 2018, got the idea of a minigolf course that was more challenging than other courses.
Prodigy is open Wednesday through Sunday and is open for tabletop games only on Tuesdays. Only ages 13 and up are allowed entry.
Prodigy is located at 116 Pleasant St. in Easthampton. The safety precautions that are in place at Prodigy can be found on his website, http://www.prodigyminigolf.com/safety/4594987338.