Creating a thriving and inclusive hub for the local gaming community
The Venture Melton team recently caught up with Melton locals of over 20 years Emanuel and Vicky Cachia, husband and wife and proud owners of Pro Gamers in Ravenhall.
Pro Gamers is a welcoming and inclusive gaming lounge and a haven for trading card players, board gamers, roleplayers, war-gamers, sci-fi and fantasy enthusiasts, and collectors of Funko Pop vinyls.
In the true spirit of entrepreneurship Emanuel told us, “sometimes you need to take a chance and follow your dreams and your heart.”
• Gamers in competition at a sold out Pro Gamers event.
Before Pro Gamers opened its doors in 2014 from a small shop front in Caroline Springs, Emanuel and Vicky were actively involved in our local community, running programs and workshops in editing and writing, as well as gaming and computer groups from Taylors Hill Youth and Community Centre.
Positive feedback from participants, an increasing level of interest and a lack of places for gamers to socialise in the area planted the seed to some day open their own gaming business.
After years of saving and planning Emanuel and Vicky took out additional capital and took the plunge.
“We received a really positive response from the community right from the start and it was a great reward to be able to do what we love for a living, Emanuel says.
“Moving into massive new premises on the Western Highway just four years later, was another huge milestone for us.”
“Surviving the Covid19 closures has been our greatest challenge. We had to downscale to our current location on Vanessa Drive in Ravenhall.
“We adapted by creating an online store and began shipping products Australia-wide. This unplanned pivot has allowed us to increase our exposure around the country and has helped us flourish in ways we never expected.
“It has allowed us to expand the number of staff we employ and increase our opening hours for local players to enjoy.”
Pro Gamers now employ three staff, and 16-year-old daughter Trinity also works in the business.
Locals are welcomed to play games for free at the store any time it is open, meeting like-minded gamers and competing for prizes in weekly tournaments.
“It’s been great to see the City's Youth and Library services and schools embrace the benefits gaming in-person has for developing skills such as socialising, problem solving, literacy and numeracy,” Emanuel says.
“These things are important for our mental health and wellbeing, as well as our sense of self and feelings of self worth.”
As for the future, Emanuel says the couple hope to continue expanding the products offered online and in-store.
“If the number of players joining our events continues to increase, we may move to another, larger location!”
Visit Pro Gamers at 14/8-10 Vanessa Drive, Ravenhall, or check out their website, progamers.com.au.