Ribbon cutting for Jack’s Let’s Play in Central City. Photo Credit: Centralia Chamber of Commerce.
The Centralia Chamber of Commerce has held ribbon cuttings at two Central City restaurants and video gaming businesses. Dago’s is located at 1159 North Poplar and Jack’s – Let’s Play at 140 North Commercial.
Dago’s is owned by Mike Atchison. He is a Centralia native who left the community in 1985 and said he decided to open the establishment, named after his late father, after retiring from the insurance industry and returning to his home earlier this year.
Atchison said his new business is more than just a video gaming destination and hopes it will inspire others to invest in the community.
“It’s not just gaming. There’s also food, drink, rock n’ roll, the whole thing,” said Atchison, who explained that he one day hopes to add a stage to host concerts and large crowds. He is a former member of the Sound Waves band.
With a staff of 11 part-time employees, the new business is now open from 7:00 AM until 11:00 PM Monday through Saturday, and from 11:00 AM until 10:00 PM on Sundays.
The dining room, described as child-friendly, will close at 8:00 PM every evening.
Jack’s – Let’s Play is a multi-purpose operation, featuring video gaming, arcade-style games and a golf simulator, as well as a bar and kitchen with daily lunch specials.
Owner Travis Etheridge said it was imperative to him and wife, Annika, that the business – which takes his name from their young son – had something to offer the entire family.
“When we were first going to open, it was just going to be a gaming lounge,” Etheridge said. “We decided we wanted somewhere where kids could come to and people could have fun. That’s why we put the arcades in here, the golf simulator in the back. It’s all about people having a good time. It doesn’t have to just be based around adults. Kids can come in, too.”
Etheridge said the construction process began in the winter of 2024 and opened for business in May, noting the response thus far has been overwhelmingly positive.
A former chamber president and a prolific investor in the Centralia community, Etheridge said he and Annika are committed to keeping their business endeavors local.
“Everything we do, we try to put back into Centralia. My kids are going to grow up here, so I want it to be nice for them. I figure if we continue to build here, bring more revenue to Centralia, we’ll make it an even better place to live.”
Jack’s – Let’s Play is open every day from 11:00 AM until 2:00 AM.
