Imagine having a place in downtown Oxford where people of all ages can work or play on state-of-the-art computers while enjoying a tasty beverage and maybe a snack.
There’s no need to imagine it because CC’s Cyber Cafe is already here.
Located at 3 S. Washington Street, the 1,800-square-foot cafe opened Friday to fulfill the community’s technological and entertainment needs.
‘We literally have something for everyone,? said owner Brian Lawlor, of Almont. ‘There’s a need for a gathering place that’s for everyone. It’s not exclusive for kids. It’s not exclusive for adults.?
CC’s Cyber Cafe, which also has locations in Almont, Marlette and Caro, offers 14 ‘high-end? personal computers preloaded with ‘well over 100 games? and top-of-the-line graphics cards.
‘When you play a game, it’s going to look amazing,? Lawlor said.
The cost to use one of the cafe’s PCs is $4 per hour or $10 for three hours.
The cyber cafe also features two 46-inch and one 56-inch high-definition flat-screen televisions for playing Nintendo PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii. Gaming consoles cost $3.50 per hour to play.
From Disney products and learning games to Sims and World of Warcraft, the cyber cafe offers entertainment appropriate for every age level.
Computer accounts, which are free to open, are available for children (under 13), teens (13-15) and mature (16 and over).
Users age 15 and under must have a signed permission slip from their parents in order to open a mature account. Children’s accounts do not have internet access.
Lawlor wished to note a mature account is designated as such because of the violence depicted in games, not because of sexual content or strong language.
Games of an ‘adult? nature are not loaded in any computers nor are they allowed.
In fact, where the internet is concerned, CC’s Cyber Cafe does not allow any access to pornographic or adult web sites nor is the illegal downloading of music and movies permitted.
‘We monitor all the computer systems from the server over there, so we know exactly what’s going on,? Lawlor said. ‘There is a zero tolerance policy. If somebody’s caught, not only are they banned from here, but depending on the violation, we may even call the police.?
But the cyber cafe isn’t just a place to play games.
It’s a place to get work done with its 12-megabit broadband internet connection, Wi-Fi access for laptops, printer and fax machines and programs like Microsoft Office suite and PhotoShop.
‘If your computer breaks down while you’re doing your homework, you can come in and finish it,? said Lawlor, noting the cafe does computer repairs as well as build and sell PCs.
Local business owners can take advantage of the fact CC’s has website development programs such as Dreamweaver. ‘If the small businesses want to come in and make their websites here, we can do that,? Lawlor said. ‘We have at least two or three local business people in Almont who update their websites at the cafe once or twice a week.?
Need some help navigating the cyber world?
You’re in luck because the cafe hosts classes.
‘We’re going to offering classes on all the (Microsoft) Office products,? Lawlor said. ‘We’re also going to have web development classes, PhotoShop classes, and general PC classes for people that don’t know how to use a computer.?
Classes cost around $20 for a 2?-hour session.
CC’s Cyber Cafe welcomes gatherings of all kinds including birthday parties, business presentations, club meetings, seminars and school functions.
‘It’s a facility that can accommodate so many different things,? Lawlor said. ‘The options are unlimited.?
All this talk about technology and work making you thirsty or hungry?
Good thing, CC’s offers a variety of beverages including fresh-made coffee drinks, smoothies, slushies, soda pops and assorted energy drinks.
‘We guarantee all of our drinks here,? Lawlor said. ‘If don’t like it, you can try something else. If you don’t like that, we give you your money back.?
All coffee drinks are made with roasted beans supplied by the Michigan-based Cadillac Coffee Company.
Along with beverages customers can enjoy nachos, hot dogs, waffles, soft-serve ice cream, soup, candy, chips, popcorn, muffins and sandwiches.
CC’s Cyber Cafe is open from 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Computer use is free until 9 a.m. Monday through Friday with the purchase of a beverage or food item.
For who worry the cafe’s late hours will cause problems where local youth are concerned, Lawlor wished to assure the community he will enforce the village curfew and make sure parents pick up their children after 10 p.m.
He also plans to install web cameras which will enable parents to ‘look in? on their kids at the cafe’s website www.ccscybercafe.com.
‘This isn’t going to be a hangout for troublemakers,? Lawlor said. ‘These places are kept very shipshape.?
A grand opening, complete with clown, face painting, giveaways and free computer time, is planned for Saturday, June 16 beginning at noon.
For more information call (248) 236-9077.