Larry and Kathleen White, along with their daughter, Leslie Kell, were on vacation looking for something fun to do as a family. They looked at a local website listing upcoming activities when something caught their eye and they visited a place called Epic Escape Game. They had so much fun, all they talked about on the way home was how exciting it would be to run a business like Epic Escape Game. They even met with the owner about opening one up in Grand Junction and less than a year later, that is exactly what they did.
Epic Escape Game is a fun interactive adventure game designed for everyone. The concept is simple. A team will be locked in a room where they have 60 minutes to find clues, solve puzzles and escape from the room before their time is up. One can play with their family, friends or co-workers. The object is to make an Epic Escape.

Before opening the business, they met with a friend who recommended that they talk with the Grand Junction SBDC. They had been around business all their lives, but they had never run one. After taking the Grand Junction SBDC’s “How to Start a Business” class, they put together a business plan that made financial sense. Also, they learned about managing profit and loss along with cash flows. Their vision was to create a business that would be of benefit to the people of Grand Junction. Since opening on December 26, 2015, they have seen 25 to 30% growth each month.

The joy in seeing families and people solving puzzles is what makes these business owner’s excited and keeps their business growing. “People act like they found a million dollars when they solve a puzzle and get a lock open,” says Kathleen. Their advice is to talk to people who have done it and find out what it takes to be done. “Do not be afraid to ask for advice especially multiple people,” says Larry. “The support team is what helps build confidence.”