A name synonymous with discos, birthday parties and fun with friends for a generation of local kids, Bizee Bodz Mudgee will soon be reopen under new management.
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While Stevie Browne admits she was not initially sold on the idea of taking over Bizee Bodz, she and her fiancé Dylan Smith talked it over and soon realised it was an opportunity they couldn't miss.
"We saw it advertised and I thought it would be a good opportunity. We arranged to have a look at it and we weren't really sold at first," Ms Browne said.
"Time went on and it kept playing on my mind.
It looked a bit like the days of Bizee Bodz could potentially have been over so we thought 'let's just have a go at it'.
- Bizee Bodz owner, Stevie Browne
With two children, Skylah and River, Ms Browne who currently works in child care and has a history in hospitality, knows the challenges sometimes faced by parents in public.
"I want somewhere where you don't have to worry about your kids running up the wall because everyone else here has kids as well. No one will be giving you the stink eye," she said.
As a breastfeeding mother, Ms Browne's vision for Bizee Bodz is not only a place for kids to be social and "get the sillies out", but a place where mothers can nourish their children in a judgement-free environment and parents can take a breather.
"A lot of the cafes are breastfeeding-friendly but it's hard to get somewhere to have a coffee and feel like you're not putting someone else out with the kid's screaming and yelling and running around," Ms Browne said.
"We would always get a take away coffee and sit somewhere else to not bother others. It's hard to feel comfortable especially when breastfeeding.
"At Bizee Bodz you will only have to keep half an eye on the kids because it's not like at the park where they can run off onto the road, we've got the barriers and child-safe gates.
"They can have a bit of freedom and you can take a breather and relax for a while."
Since becoming the centre's owner, Ms Browne has taken to social media to collaborate with the region's parents to discover what toys and activities are on the 'must have' list.
"I know what I want, which is the same as everyone else, but I had to make sure I wasn't spending copious amounts of money on stuff that only I wanted," she said.
"We're trying to get painters in now to modernise the place but I think everyone has the same idea, to get painting done while they're shut down. We're hoping to get someone in otherwise I'll hook in myself.
"We've chucked out all the toys that are missing parts. I've been sitting down all week doing puzzles making sure that everything is all there, there's nothing worse than spending time doing a puzzle only to find you're missing a piece.
"We've also ordered some more play equipment and filled up the ball pit.
"I really want to drive home that it's all about community. It'll be an extension of your own home."
While an official opening date is yet to be determined, the new and improved Bizee Bodz will be well worth the wait.
"One of the biggest things we want to look at is discos," Ms Browne said.
"We are going to try and open at least on Saturday's and also for private bookings. I also want to do one evening for the after school kids to just hang out, and a playgroup maybe on a Thursday."
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