After 18 months of anticipation, The Black-Barn opened its doors Jan. 17 in downtown Gaylord, introducing a new entertainment destination built for families, couples and groups.
Owned by Joshua Shelby and members of his family, The Black-Barn offers a range of activities, from axe throwing and fowling to archery, gelly ball, laser tag and arcade games. Shelby teamed up with his mom and co-owner Sherry Mager to plan the opening of the 10,000-square-foot space at 121 S. Indiana St., just a block from Main Street and about a mile east of the Main Street/I-75 interchange.
The Shelbys own the building and a building next door. The Black-Barn replaced the former Downtown Indoor Flea Market.
“We discussed as a family how we could fill that space and wanted to find something unique that would be something fun to attract (customers),” Shelby said. “It just kept evolving. We worked day and night for about a year and a half. I think it offers something for everyone.”
Customers purchase game card credits used for onsite activities. The Black-Barn currently offers extra credits when game cards of $25 or more are purchased.
“We’re trying to offer an affordable system that can help (customers) budget for when they come here,” Shelby said.
The Black-Barn offers private rooms for corporate and group events and parties. Shelby expects food and an expanded drink menu, including beer and wine, to be added over the next few weeks. Customers can currently purchase soft drinks.
The concept is similar to nationwide chains like Dave & Buster’s and GameWorks that are typically located in larger metropolitan areas. However, Shelby feels The Black-Barn offers customers a more unique option.
“I would call what we have more of an experience than just games,” Shelby said. “It’s not just an arcade but has some fun group activities. We like to think there’s something for everyone from ages 5 through 85. We don’t just want to be (known as) a bar.”
The archery setup, for example, offers retractable targets, and the axe-throwing is purely digital.
The Black-Barn is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3-9 p.m., Fridays from 3-10 p.m., Saturdays from 12-10 p.m., and Sundays from 12-5 p.m. Shelby expects hours will expand during the warm weather months, which will necessitate the hiring of seasonal workers to add to the existing staff of 10 employees. Shelby and his fellow owners continue to seek applications for current and future positions.
Those warm-weather months will also allow the owners to open a small patio outdoor space to customers for additional seating.
Learn more by visiting theblack-barn.com or emailing theblackbarn121@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: ‘Not just an arcade’: The Black-Barn opens in Gaylord
Reporting by M. Alan Scott, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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