When Ravenhall gaming cafe Pro Gamers was nominated for the 2022 Melton Business Excellence Awards, few people in the business community were aware such a business was operating locally.
But owner Emanuel Cachia believes that changed when Pro Gamers won the Mayoral Achievement Award.
The award is judged across all Melton Business Excellence Awards finalists, and recognises outstanding performance in the judging criteria for their nominated category. Pro Gamers had been nominated for the Adaptability Award.
“Winning brought us recognition in the business community,” Emanuel said.
“We were already quite well known in our community Australia-wide but a lot of the business community hadn’t come across us before.”
Emanuel and his wife started Pro Gamers to provide local gamers a place to belong and meet people with the same interests.
The cafe features board games, card games such as Pokemon, hobby models, posters and more, and provides gamers with a free space to play, as long as they purchase food and drinks from the cafe. It also runs weekly tournaments which are promoted on the cafe’s website and social media.
It has been operating in Ravenhall for nine years.
“There was nothing like this in the area,” Emanuel said.
“There were similar offerings in America but there was nothing in our area.”
Emanuel said he was hopeful Pro Gamers would be nominated for the 2023 Melton Business Excellence Awards and encouraged people to nominate local businesses they felt were going above and beyond.
“There is a lot of benefit to being nominated,” he said.
“I was just happy we were named as a finalist. It is a great reward for our hard work.”
Businesses can also self-nominate for the awards. This year the award categories are: innovation and transformation; equality, diversity and inclusion; disability and inclusion initiative; sustainable product or process; health, wellness and care; visitation and hospitality; new business or start up; professional services; and young entrepreneur of the year.
The Business of the Year Award will be decided by the judging panel from the individual category award winners.
Mayor Lara Carli said the awards were among the many council initiatives helping businesses thrive in Melton.
“Whether you’re a small, family-run operation, a large, well-established business, or something in between, it’s a fantastic chance to promote your achievements and the everyday services and products you provide to the community,” she said.
“Our businesses are the lifeblood of our community and council is proud to showcase their innovation, resilience and strength.”
Nominations close midnight July 7. The awards will be presented on September 27.
Details: melton.vic.gov.au/mbea
