Gameseum COVID-19 Relief Fund (Ephrata, PA)

#SmallBusinessRelief

[NOTE: Like most of the many other arcade fundraisers out there, this is a relief fund for the scary and uncertain months ahead, and NOT a last-minute emergency fund for, per se, last's month rent. Defcon level 4.5 instead of Defcon level 5... we still plan to re-open no matter what as long as it isn't too much longer! Plan for it! This is for longterm help and stability... see below. Thanks!] -------------- Hi! My name is Steven Van Splinter Jr., and I founded and own Gameseum, LLC, located in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Over time, I've become one to hate asking for help, and trying to give as much as possible to my community while taking as little as possible... while competitors and some other arcades began launching GoFundMe campaigns as soon as the closures hit to large support, I have quietly attempted to wait and feel out the situation/hoping to not have to, doing so for several months now, as our savings quickly go towards rent and utilities. Even with most of these campaigns being largely successful, I always felt too unsure about it. Months later... due to most of my arcade-operating friends now starting their campaigns and receiving understanding and wonderful support from their communities (bless you all so much), on top of Lancaster County's dead-last "phase" situation looking bleak compared to much of the rest of the state, combined with, our manner of business not being allowed/able to open until "green phase", many kind customers openly looking/asking for somewhere to donate ti Gameseum and asking us to set up a GoFundMe, and thanks to several kind friends encouraging me that it would be okay (I like to give not take... tried really hard to not do this), I have decided to finally pull the trigger and launch a GoFundMe campaign, standing alongside of a large majority of other small-business arcades who have already done so, due to the rocky future our business type may have in store. Good idea! And thank you for the support. Gameseum is a special place, and is a place for all. Over the past year, we've opened our doors to thousands of different people from near and far, having created a special place for old gamers to experience the thrill and nostalgia of games from their childhood, and new gamers to experience the fun of yesteryear that still holds true to this day. Opening in June 2019, Gameseum in Ephrata quickly became a smash hit, attracting thousands of people (many from hours away) to come check out the newest hottest arcade. Getting rave reviews, putting smiles on faces, and being featured on Fox43 News, WFMZ News, LNP + LancasterOnline, Only In Your State, Fly After 5, Replay Magazine, Ephrata Review, and so much more, we were so grateful to watch our dreams coming true and watching EVERYBODY enjoy Gameseum along with us... and then it came to an unexpected temporary full stop, due to COVID-19 mandatory closures. While we were financially prepared for any emergencies, months on end of total closure is miles away from anybody's most ambitious safety fund. Gameseum is a "small business", family run business, and most notably a young entrepreneur business, fully owned and operated by myself (Steven, 22 years old), and my lovely fiancee, Mallorey, who is 21. We are (literally) the only two employees and people involved in Gameseum - a product of many years of planning before opening. From running the business side, collecting the games from all over the East Coast, to the deepest repairs of 1960's technology, to running all of the social media, to cleaning the toilets and planting flowers, I am the "jack of all trades" here at Gameseum, while Mallorey mans the customer desk, keeps up with our online gift certificate orders, and does a lot of the extra roles herself. While we've always been big believers of a big safety cushion of our finances (which has helped us get this far in such harsh, impossible conditions - already 3 months in), but even our overzealous safety cushion, or any business's, is no competition to the once-in-a-century occurence of months of complete closure on end, which is paired with still paying our usual bills. To make matters more difficult, unfortunately, unlike most other business types in our area, our line of business has no "takeout" or halfway alternativs (like restaurants) to offer, so we'll be completely shuttered with barely a trickle of income until we are allowed to re-open in full, with no in-between possible. Not only that, but as restrictions have just recently been lifted on most businesses as yellow phase began just yesterday, our business type is required to wait until "green phase", which has no end in sight in Lancaster County. Even after all of that, we will not likely see our regular attendance (or maybe you guys will come back in full force - we'd love to see that!) for some time. Any help from the community would go a really long way over the remainder of the year and beyond. For arcades, the road is a lot more rocky, and the effects will be felt harder and longer. For Lancaster County businesses, the road seems a lot longer and more uncertain for us all. Unfortunately, we're both! This is not ideal for me but I hope given the dire situation we are all in, it will at least be understood... and thank you from the bottom of our heart for those who requested we at Gameseum set a GoFundMe up! Thank you for the continued support and we appreciate any donations. If you are not in a good situation yourself, please do not feel obligated to give, we wouldn't want that. Anything helps from those who are able, and either way, we'll keep fighting to stay open! Steven & Mallorey