A new Charleston business is attracting video gamers both young and old through a unique rental system.

Located at 546 W. Lincoln Ave., eBash opened Nov. 16 and is a video gaming center where people can pay to use the center’s gaming systems and video games for a specific amount of time.

The center has 20 PC’s, 33 Xboxes, one Kinect, two Playstation 3s and two Wii U’s.

The gaming center also has two party rooms that residents are welcome to rent out for birthday parties and other celebrations.

Co-owner Derek Rankin, a junior mathematics and computer science major, began developing the idea for starting an eBash in Charleston when he was serving in the Air Force National Guard in Afghanistan last year.

When he came back from his tour of duty, Rankin began researching the other two eBashes in Evansville, Ind., and Terre Haute, Ind., to develop a plan to start his own eBash.

Rankin said he has enjoyed playing video games since he was young and developed the idea for starting an eBash from his passion for gaming.

“We started this because it’s something we love to do,” he said. “We are all huge nerds.”

Rankin said many children grow up playing video games, and the idea of starting a business around video gaming is not uncommon.

“Every gamer probably has this idea thinking ‘I wish I could make money playing video games,’” he said, remembering how he and his friends would gather together on weekends and play video games.

Along with renting games and gaming systems, eBash will also host lock-ins and competitions where players can compete within specific video games to win cash prizes.

Rankin said residents and students of all ages are welcome to play at eBash. However, he said gamers need to be mindful of their language and their level of competitive taunting.

“We do want to bring in as many college students as we can but also keep it a kid-friendly environment,” he said.

TJ Richey, an Eastern graduate and Charleston resident, came to eBash the very first day the gaming center opened and came back to play most of the following weekend.

“As soon as I got off work, I was here,” he said. “I’ve been here every day.”

Richey has played at the eBash in Terre Haute, Ind., and said he is glad an eBash opened up closer to his home.

“I’m really happy to see this facility here,” he said.

As eBash begins to attract more people, Rankin said he will add more and different gaming systems as demand increases, as well as expand to larger cities in Illinois.

“We want to grow to either Champaign, Springfield, Bloomington, Peoria or some other bigger cities,” he said.

Tim Deters can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].