This family's got game … video games
Edison family opens video gaming center in Woodbridge
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

JEFF GRANIT staff Twin brothers David (l) and Thomas Sastre, 17, Edison, converse over tactics while playing the video game "World of Warcraft" at the Time Zone Gaming Center in Fords, which opened on July 6.

WOODBRIDGE - Mary Gotz didn't know it then, but her son Jeffrey's hobby of playing video games would become her full-time occupation.

"I really never thought I would be doing this," said Gotz on July 27 as she sat reciting all the trading cards that her family store has.

Gotz with her husband, Joseph, son Jeffrey, 22, daughter Ashley, 20, and Ashley's boyfriend, Pat Cksica, 29, opened the Time Zone Gaming center at 430 New Brunswick Ave., Fords, on July 6.

Ashley said she still doesn't know how her mother learned all the information.

"Well, with Ashley in school and Jeffrey working nights, I had to learn it fast to man the store," said Gotz. "The only thing I don't do is play the games."

Ashley said opening up a gaming center was a dream of hers and Jeffrey's since they were little.

"He forced me to play video games and then I became hooked," she said.

As for the name Time Zone Gaming, they said the name just stuck.

"This is a cool place for gamers to meet other gamers," she said.

"We get a good response from the teenagers, but also with the college-age kids as well," said Ashley. "Rather than sit at their house, they are thrilled to meet other people who like to do what they like to do."

Mary added that when parents see her, they feel more comfortable.

"I think because I'm like a mom figure," she said. "This is a place where they can come and enjoy their hobby."

The Gotzes, who reside in Edison, previously owned a Time Zone Gaming center in Edison for a year and a half.

"It was a much smaller place," said Mary. "We only sold trading cards and held some tournaments. When we saw this building in Fords, we fell in love. The town has such a neighborhood feel, and everyone has been so friendly."

"Plus our neighbors such as Villa Borghese Restaurant like us because our customers patronize their places," she said.

The Gotzes said that with a gaming center in Brick and another one in Wayne, they could now cater to the people in central New Jersey.

The gaming center includes 14 network gaming PCs, six tables for trading card games, a PlayStation 2 system and games, a PlayStation 3 system and games, Xbox 360 system and games, Xbox 360 Elites system and games, Nintendo Wii system and games, Dance Dance Revolution, three 27-inch gaming TVs, 42-inch HD plasma gaming TVs and high-speed Internet.

Ashley added that before anyone under 17 years old can play M-rated games, they must have a parental consent form filled out.

The center sells gaming apparel, trading cards, and drinks and snacks.

The center offers a variety of games for each system and also allows gamers to bring in their own games.

Gotz said newcomers shouldn't worry if they don't know how to play, because they will be more than happy to help.

The business also offers computer repair by Cksica and Ray Radwan.

"This is good for parents who want to get their kids' computers ready for the upcoming school year," said Mary.

The gaming center holds various tournaments such as Dungeons & Dragons, Gears of War on Xbox 360 on Monday nights; Nintendo Wii Bowling tournaments and Unreal PC tournaments on Tuesday nights; Magic tournaments on Friday nights, and sanctioned Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments on Sunday afternoons.

As the Gotzes talked about their store, people were filing in for the Magic: The Gathering tournament that night.

"Tournaments can last several hours," said Mary. "It depends on how well people play."

John Jackmin, 45, who said he usually brings his 17-year-old son and 18-year-old nephew, has come from Cranford to play in the tournament.

"This place runs a really good tournament," said Jackmin, who has been playing in Magic tournaments since 1996. "I have been coming to the store since they opened up the store in Edison."

Thomas Sastre and his twin brother, David, 17, of Edison, played the video game "World of Warcraft" on the PCs as they waited for the Magic tournament.

"You can never be bored in this place," said Thomas, who had come to the old store and now to the new one with his brother for the past year.

David added that the people are very nice.

"When you come here, you feel accepted," he said. "They have all the top-tier video game systems, game apparel, and accessories."

Thomas said the center was good if you just wanted to play a game and not spend hundreds of dollars on a system.

"There's just an hourly fee," he said.

Christopher Hiles, 20, of High Bridge, said even though he has to travel to get to the gaming center, he likes just hanging out at the store.

"I play just about everything here from "Dungeons & Dragons" to Magic tournaments," he said. "I also like the people here."

Jeffrey and Ashley said that in the future they hope to expand their business with things they cannot afford right now.

"We would really like big projection screens like the store in New York City has," said Ashley.

The gaming center is open Monday through Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.

For more information, visit www.timezonegaming.com or call (732) 738-5111.