A new venue has opened up in Edna for kids, teenagers, adults and seniors: The Gathering Place, located at 102 North East Street in Edna.
Randy Reed, owner of the new establishment, is proud to share The Gathering Place, something he’s been working on for a year.
“My goal was to make something in the community that would leave behind a legacy that would continue to help others,” he said.
“My passion is to connect with others, build relationships and be an inspiration.”
A coach and educator for over 25 years, Reed currently teaches in Bay City but has lived in Edna for four years.
In addition to being a teacher and coach, he’s been in administration as well, but in the last several years, he wanted to return to connecting with kids. He’s had over 700 career wins in numerous sports, 35 championships and has been named Coach of the Year nine times.
The Gathering Place is ready to rent for parties, get-togethers, meet- ings, reunions, birthday parties and more. And while people can rent just the space, one can rent the full experience, which includes taking advantage of the games peppered around the place, interactive dart boards, interactive televisions with NeXT Cubes installed with hundreds of games, a partial kitchen, video games, air hockey, foosball tables, a karaoke system with a singing machine, and a pool table upstairs.
Twenty-four cameras are installed inside and outside for security.
“In time, I hope to expand it to see the needs of our community,” Reed said. “This is phase one and I want to expand to outside games as well and have a fence put in for safety. Families could come and barbecue if they wanted.”
Featured packages are available, depending on how many hours one wants to use the facility, and for what purpose. Birthday bashes begin at $299 and graduation parties begin at $249.
Summer camps will also be available to join for grades four through nine, and limited to 40 spots each. Their mission is to “inspire, develop, and empower the next generation to become leaders in school and in life.”
Reed said he grew up without a father present and an alcoholic mother, so he wasn’t the best kid growing up, until he had a moment with a teacher.
“I was acting up, so she pulled me aside and started to tear up,” he recalled. “I was a seventh grader, and she said, ‘you don’t have to be like those other knuckleheads, I want you to be successful.’ Well, I didn’t know what a knucklehead was, and I didn’t change right away, but the seed was planted. Then a coach came to my neighborhood and taught me to love baseball, thus leading me to be a teacher and coach.”
When he moved to Edna he noticed a lack of places for kids, families and even seniors, so it’s not just youth-based.
“I want people to understand how much they’re valued at any age,” Reed said, “and I want to create good memories for kids.”
Call 361-433-5050 or email lovesportsacademy@ gmail.com for more information about rentals, camps and more.
