BATTLEGR TACTICAL GAMES
Business is all about fun for Jenny and Joe Lashuay. The couple owns BattleGR Tactical Games in Comstock Park that offers laser tag, archery tag, arcade games, and concessions (they even make their own pizza). There are two sport courts for basketball, volleyball, and futsal (a soccer game which is a scaled down version of outdoor soccer and is played indoors). Other games like dodgeball and cornhole are also played on the courts.
“We love smiles and memories we are able to make, said Jenny. “We love seeing our families play together.”
They lease a 24,000 square foot building at 284 Dodge St. NE for their on-site activities, and they have a mobile division that takes activities off site for events at homes or businesses such as birthday parties. The off-site activities offer laser tag, archery tag, video game theater, foam parties, as well as glitter tattoos and air brush tattoos.
Jenny was working in sales and Joe was a teacher when they started doing mobile laser tag as a business. They lived in Nashville, Tennessee, and Jenny said, “there was very little for activities for teen/tweens.” They have two sons, one now in high school and one in middle school.
“Our boys loved it,” said Jenny. “They still play every week, and our oldest is now working for us.”
When they moved back to West Michigan to be closer to family, they needed an indoor space because of winter weather. They opened a facility in Standale offering archery tag and video game theater. They moved to their current space in October 2020.
“We were looking for a location that was right off the highway but then close to neighborhoods as well,” said Jenny.
There are currently three full time and nine part-rime employees. They plan to hire more as business increases. Most of the employees run the games because the business is very hands-on, said Jenny. They run summer camps for kids, as well as fundraisers and community support events.
“We have some kids in wheelchairs that come play with us, and it so cool to see how excited they are to be able to play laser tag.” said Jenny.
Battle GR was named Top 10 Birthday Party Venue and Indoor Play Place at GRkids, a web site that shows activities for families in the Grand Rapids area and beyond. They do community events to draw in kids including a trunk or treat in their parking lot at Halloween. There is a weekly Friday “teen-ish” night for kids 10 or older. Parents can join in for that. For adults looking for something different, on the last Saturday of each month there is an Adult BYOB Night event. Call ahead for that.
(July 2021)