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By: Casey Roberts

Contributing Writer

 

What began as a modest dream to offer a safe, affordable place for families in Lincoln County has quickly turned into a community staple — one slice of pizza and one party at a time.

Heather and Joseph Brown, both lifelong residents of McKinney, opened McKinney Crossing Event Center last fall with no expectations beyond serving their hometown and keeping the lights on.

“When we bought the arcade in September, we only had plans to create a safe, family-friendly environment that was affordable,” Heather Brown said. “Our only goal was to make sure the bills were paid, and we would volunteer our evenings and weekends to be open.”

The couple originally intended to focus on birthday parties and public play nights, offering parents a local option for entertaining their children. But a simple addition — pizza — would unknowingly spark something much bigger.

“We only added pizza for the birthday parties,” Brown said. “I had this crazy idea that parties could be stress-free and just fun. We burnt and undercooked many while learning the oven, and had to have our neighbors at the tire store help us taste-test. Once we had it figured out, they and others wanted us to sell them to the public.”

The Browns obliged, and the popularity snowballed from there. Today, the business features arcade games, a pool table, ball pit, a growing deli menu, ice cream, and themed Friday night open events that draw in crowds from beyond county lines.

“Friday night visitors can come from 5 to 9,” Brown explained. “All of our games are turned on credits, and you pay five dollars to get in. While you’re here, you don’t have to hear your child beg for money or cry because they’re out.”

The venue includes 20 games, air hockey, a ball pit for young children, and a party room that seats up to 35 guests. Birthday parties are hosted in private, with games included and space to enjoy food, laughs and celebration without the stress of cleanup or coordination.

“We host all kinds of parties — birthdays, family gatherings, bridal showers, even gender reveals,” Brown said. “Thanksgiving and Christmas were extremely popular. We’ve even had people book weeknight parties just so the whole family can fit and the kids can be entertained.”

Though the Browns are less than a year into the business, they’re already planning for growth. The 6,400-square-foot building is only half utilized, and they hope to expand both the party room and game selection soon.

“We are working to buy some new games that will be pretty neat,” she said. “The future does include expansion. But most of all, we’ll continue to listen to the community to see what they want or need.”

At the heart of McKinney Crossing is a simple mission: fun shouldn’t cost a fortune, and families should feel welcome.

“I would love for people to know that we keep them in mind for everything we do,” Brown said. “From the food to the party space to our pricing. Families should be able to take their kids out for ice cream or a fun night and not have to break the bank.”

 

Looking ahead, the Browns plan to roll out all-inclusive party packages designed to “optimize fun” and take the guesswork out of hosting.

“We never dreamed that this project would be as big as it has become,” Brown added. “But we are grateful — and willing — to serve our community and others.”