Gaming venue launches near Bass Pro

Esports players have a new option for gaming action at a shop near Bass Pro Shops at the Sunshine Street and Campbell Avenue intersection.

Cricketts Esports LLC is a first-time business ownership venture for Cody Ricketts, a 27-year-old recent graduate of Ozarks Technical Community College. The shop, which opened June 4, is in the Sunshine Corners shopping center at 210 W. Sunshine St., Ste. F.

Ricketts, who in May earned an associate degree in business administration, said he was developing his business plan while in school.

“I’m a big gamer. This has been my dream to open one of these since I was 8 years old,” he said, noting his 1,200-square-foot shop has 10 gaming PCs he built by hand, as well as two Nintendo Switch consoles for gamers’ use. “I used to go to a little shop when I was growing up in Jasper, Georgia.”

While at OTC, Ricketts said he took on side work such as pressure washing homes, landscaping and as a salesperson at clothing retailer Hollister Co. at the Battlefield Mall.

“I just made side money as much as I could, knowing that I was getting everything prepped up for this. My wife, [Katelyn], helped me fund all this,” he said, adding startup costs were $30,000. “We didn’t have to go through a bank or anything, so self-funded as a family.”

Ricketts is on a two-year lease for an undisclosed rate with Maples Properties.

At Cricketts Esports, players have over 100 games to choose from, including Call of Duty, Super Smash Bros., Counter-Strike and Street Fighter 6. Unlimited game play prices are $9 for one hour, $20 for a three-hour bundle and $28 for an all-day pass. The shop also offers tournaments and can be rented out for birthdays, with packages ranging $75-$150. A $50 reservation fee is required.

“It’s invigorating, but it’s also stressful,” Ricketts said about his new venture, for which he is the lone employee. “You don’t have any income starting out until you get customers in the door.”