Heather Curtis

WMAL.com

WASHINGTON (WMAL) – The Skee-ball balls are still, and the air hockey tables are powered down in the arcade section of Monster Mini Golf in Gaithersburg months after arcades were allowed to reopen in other parts of Maryland. Games meant to bring joy and amusement are bringing stress and financial hardship to co-owner Frank Thanicatt.

The arcade at Monster Mini Golf is responsible for more than 50% of the money his business brings in. Now he worries he may need to shut down if Montgomery County doesn’t step in to help. 

“If we don’t get some relief and try to get this up, I don’t know if we’ll make it to the end of the year,” Thanicatt said. 

Thanicatt said he has been ready to turn the machines back on since Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced that arcades could reopen in Phase 2 of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan back in June. Unfortunately for Thanicatt, Montgomery County is reopening at a slower pace, and arcades must remain closed. 

“Here we are in Montgomery County, three months later and we’re still not okay to open,” Thanicatt said. 

In early July the county gave Thanicatt the green light to open his indoor miniature golf course at half capacity, but he said the money from it isn’t enough to keep his employees paid, the rent current and the lights turned on. 

Thanicatt’s urging county leaders and health officials to reconsider what can and cannot be open, especially since bowling alleys have once again been allowed to open. Thanicatt feels steps he’s already taking to keep mini golfers safe can also protect arcade users. The steps include frequently wiping down equipment and taking the temperature of everyone who enters the building. He has also placed the games six feet apart.

“We’re totally ready. We were ready months ago,” Thanicatt said.

Earl Stoddard, director of the county’s office of emergency management and homeland security said he understands how difficult the situation is for Thanicatt, but there is still concern in the county about where coronavirus positivity rates stand.

“Which has us a bit nervous about where we are” said Stoddard.

Stoddard said with bowling people are stationed in one area whereas arcades involve people walking around and interacting with different machines, which makes it more difficult to keep areas sanitized. 

While the county doesn’t usually decide on which businesses can open on a case-by-case basis, Stoddard said business owners can submit safety plans for the county to review as it decides what types of businesses will be allowed to open next.

“The majority of people who have submitted we have not approved, in the sense that they were unable to demonstrate something that was safe enough,” Stoddard said. 

Thanicatt just submitted his safety plan for review with the hopes that he can convince county leaders and health officials that his arcade and others can open their doors back up safely.

“It’s not just about me. I want all these businesses to be able to be back to normal because…it…they have the same issues we have,” Thanicatt said.

Copyright 2020 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. PHOTO: Monster Mini Golf, Gaithersburg