Eight years ago, Two Tri-City Couples launched a Knockerball franchise, with a blowing bubbles of the size of a person and other inflatables. Now they bring pleasure to their first interior location in Pasco.
Knockerball Tri-Cities launches KBTC Family Fun Zone off Chapel Hill Boulevard in Pasco. The location of brick and 6,000 square feet mortar will add a new in-room dating space in the Tri-cités which will offer coaches, virtual reality simulators, arcade games, food, grilled cheese with ice cream – and of course, Knockerball.
“We just want to give families more options,” said co -owner Jasen Hinshaw.
“This area needs it,” said co -owner Rachel Garcia. “Kennewick has something going on, but Pasco doesn’t.”
Bubble beginnings
In 2017, when the mobile company was launched for the first time, Jasen Hinshaw did not think it would be a successful idea, calling Knockerballs “expensive Bubbles”.
The large inflatable balls adapt on someone’s upper body, allowing people to run and hit themselves.
But his wife, Nellie Hinshaw, was able to persuade him. He came into contact with Rudy Garcia, who had already worked with him in a commercial enterprise, and his wife, Rachel Garcia. The four of them launched the company together.
Fortunately, the idea took off. They ordered 10 to 15 balls at the start, but “I think even before we had our first 10 backstrokes, we had to order more,” said Rudy Garcia.
For years, they have brought the corridors to holidays, events and fairs. Their rentals have expanded to include rebound houses, water slides, obstacle courses, a laser and an archery, a mechanical bull and more.
A showcase has been on the owners’ wishes list for some time, but the COVVI-19 pandemic has sidelined their plans.
Later, the owners of AX KPR made them an offer to take control of the company, and the owners of Knockerball began to manage it about a year ago. AX KPR is located at 8425 Chapel Hill Blvd., Continue C 104, and when the building developer started working on a new side, the owners jumped on the opportunity to occupy three of his consequences.
Several companies
Although Knockerball and Ax KPR remain separate companies, the owners certainly plan to take advantage of their proximity.
The pass can be purchased in one or the other, said Jasen Hinshaw, and there will be shared packages and discounts. Visitors can also bring food from one place to another.
Although the price has not yet been set for the KBTC family pleasure area, AX KPR prices are $ 20 for 45 minutes and $ 32 for 90 minutes, with reductions for soldiers, teachers , caregivers and first speakers.
Knockerball mobile activities will remain the same, but adding to the new building means that they will have to hire more staff.
Each year, Knockerball Tri-Cities attends nine at 10 fairs and 400 to 500 events, diplomas, team consolidation activities or church events, city or school events, or Holiday or birthday celebrations and more.
To take care of the new fun area as well as the mobile company, the owners seek to hire between five and 10 employees. They were already interviewing candidates at the end of January, ending the second week of February.
“We have done a lot in the past eight or nine years,” said Jasen Hinshaw, and Nellie Hinshaw added: “We were really practical.”
They reinvested everything they have in the company, and the new installation is the result. They initially thought that the company could be a hobby, and in fact Jasen Hinshaw and Rudy Garcia still work on jobs of 40 and 50 hours a week, but it has become much more than that.
“I hope that one day, it will pay to be our retirement,” said Rachel Garcia.
The new KBTC family funny area on Boulevard Chapel Hill in Pasco will include stamps, beds, virtual reality simulators, arcade games and more.
| Photo by Nathan FinkeMake smiles
The owners expect to open the funny area of the KBTC family at the end of February.
This was a six or seven -month project since the owners officially accepted it. THE The 9,000 square feet building was completed in November.
They expect the location to offer a good flow of customers, with a little traffic from the Chiawana high school nearby and the preparation of sorting.
“We are trying to build an all-inclusive, you know, it’s not just for toddlers, it’s not just for adults, it’s not just for adolescents … We have things For everyone, a great child in grandmother and grandfather, “Jasen Hinshaw said.
Already, people came to Ax KPR from Yakima and Walla Walla, stopping during business trips or buying the place for birthday or single holidays.
The owners are happy to get there.
Throughout their years of activity, they loved to see the children delighted to make a party balls appear at a party and to look at their smiles and their laughter.
“We want to bring pleasure,” said Jasen Hinshaw.
The hours of fun zone will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays; from noon to 10 p.m. on Saturdays; and from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday; and closed on Monday.
KBTC Family Fun Zone: 8425 Chapel Hill Blvd., Suite D120, Pasco; 541-922-8590. Go to Knockerball Tri-Cities Facebook for updates on the opening, prices and its official website.