Business

Vacant Elgin industrial building finds new life as a laser tag arena

Posted February 28, 2010 10:00 pm

Harry Hitzeman

A civil engineer by trade, Mitch LaFave never thought he would be the owner of a laser tag facility.

But after the St. Charles man built a 22,000-square-foot industrial building along McLean Boulevard in Elgin in September 2007, the housing market went bust, along with his hope of being a landlord for specialized tradesmen and their residential showrooms.

So after 18 months of planning and a whirlwind six weeks of internal construction, he opened the LazerMaxx Family Fun Center in Elgin in December.

LaFave also got opinions from his literal in-house focus group: his three kids, ages, 8, 11, and 13.

"I took them with me to do the research. We played laser tag at five different facilities to decide what the best laser tag system was," he said.

So far, the 10,000-square-foot facility, which includes a 5,000-square-foot laser tag arena, has been a hit with not only kids but teens and adults, too.

LazerMaxx has not only hosted your typical birthday parties, but also teen lock-ins, outings for high school sports teams and even a business after-hours event for the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce.

"It was an incredible time," said Jeanette Mihalec, the chamber's vice president of membership. "Our members just can't stop talking about it and they are not kids. It was really very much impressive for adults."

LaFave said there were a definite need for LazerMaxx for Elgin and the surrounding area.

"It's a good location, good visibility. I thought it would work here," LaFave said. "It's certainly an underserved area for this type of operation. There really is no family oriented (indoor) activities other than bowling and the movies,"

Other nearby laser tag facilities are in Carol Stream, Aurora and Algonquin.

LaFave recruited his brother, Scott, to move from Michigan, where worked at a golf course, to relocated to South Elgin and be the LazerMaxx general manager.

Scott LaFave said parents often remark about the facility's cleanliness and family friendly atmosphere.

Soda and drinks are available, but food is catered for parties.

In addition to the large, multilevel laser tag area, kids can play arcade games and win prizes. The facility also has special spring break hours.

As with many laser tag places, each participant gives the attendant a nickname when they strap on a phaser and vest.

Nicknames are displayed on a large television screen and scoreboard outside the laser tag area.

"We'll sometimes have 15, 20 people up here watching and they know their kids' code names so they can follow along," Scott LaFave said. "This is definitely a year-round destination."

Lazer Maxx laser tag in Elgin features an expansive game room and snack bar area. Christopher Hankins | Staff Photographer

LazerMaxx Family Fun Center

What: A family-friendly laser tag arena, including a video arcade and party area

Where: 941 S. McLean Blvd., Elgin

Hours: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Details: Call (847) 429-1900 or visit <a href="http://lazermaxx.com" target="new">lazermaxx.com</a>

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Business Communities Counties Elgin Kane County South Elgin St. Charles

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