Central Springfield gaming venue closing

A central Springfield gaming venue is closing after opening for business this summer.

Cricketts Esports LLC announced on Facebook that Nov. 23 would be its last day in operation. The business operates in the Sunshine Corners shopping center at 210 W. Sunshine St., Ste. F, near Bass Pro Shops' flagship store.

"We gave it the best we could for the budget we had in mind but sometimes it just does not work out!" the post reads. "I would like to thank everyone who supported and is still supporting us."

Cody Ricketts, a 27-year-old recent graduate of Ozarks Technical Community College, started Cricketts Esports in June with $30,000 in startup costs, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

“I’m a big gamer. This has been my dream to open one of these since I was 8 years old," Ricketts said at the time of his first-time business ownership venture.

Customers of the 1,200-square-foot shop can pay for passes to play myriad video games available on PC and consoles. The shop also offers tournaments and can be rented out for birthdays, according to past reporting.