The Cougar Entertainment Center is a true definition of unconventional success.
An idea that was thought of while the three soon-to-be owners had drinks and bowled at Zeppos. “You know what would be really cool? Laster tag,” co-owner Alex Woytovech said, who is credited with coming up with the idea.
A simple statement that may have seemed nonchalant at the time, was actually the turning point for something big in their lives.
“Immediately it was a lightbulb in my head and I said ‘yes, that’s a brilliant idea,’” co-owner C.J. Roberts said. “That night I stayed up until like 2 or 3 in the morning just researching about laser tag, how much money it takes, what you could do and what’s required.”
C.J. is married to the other co-owner Quincy Roberts and Woytovech is the brother of C.J. The married couple met in Western Washington, then both moved to Pullman to receive a higher education. C.J. ended up graduating with a degree in Kinesiology and Quincy with a degree in Digital Technology and Culture.
“My degree did help me with opening this business just because it helped with web design, page layout, designing the logo, altering the logo and ads,” co-owner Quincy Roberts said.
The three of the them started to pursue all the logistics on their own to get Cougar Entertainment Center up and running.
“You have to know the right people in order to streamline the process and make it faster,” C.J. said. “We kind of did it on our own and did a lot of research and googled the fuck out of everything.”
When pursuing such an expensive idea at an early age, there is always some second-guessing regarding if this is actually going to work.
“There’s always that amount of doubt because its $180,000 we literally had to borrow and that wasn’t event touching what we had to put in, so all of that was on the line,” C.J. said.
Eight employees make up Cougar Entertainment Center, including the three co-owners. All three of them still run the counters and do janitorial work, citing that they want to lead by example for their other employees.
“If you’re not willing to clean up puke and pee in the bathroom, then how can you expect your employees to do the same,” C.J. said. “We’re going to be down in the trenches like everyone of our employees, which is why they respect us so much.”
Customer service is a quality that they think sets them apart from other entertainment venues in Pullman.
“We actually care, and that’s what I think a lot of business owners don’t do anymore,” C.J. said. “We actually create personal relationships with every single person that walks through those doors.”
Cougar Entertainment Center is closed on Monday and Tuesday strategically because more people come in closer towards the weekend.
“Our peak hours are Saturday’s from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., that’s when we have all of our birthday parties,” co-owner Quincy Roberts said. “Wednesday’s are hit or miss, Thursday’s are kind of consistent, Friday’s are busier towards the end of the night and Sunday’s are kind of medium.”
Cougar Entertainment Center continues to try and be innovative and ahead of the curb, as they are introducing mobile laser tag this Summer. The event consists of going to someone’s home and setting up the course with obstacles. The idea of expansion is something that interests all three co-owners.
“Our ultimate goal is to open up something similar to Dave and Buster’s,” C.J. said. “There’s a lot of opportunities that are still available because of all the expansion going on around apartment land.”
Garrett Williams is the former General Manager of Cougar Entertainment Center and had nothing but high praise for the owners’ determination and innovations.
“Their ambition comes from their drive to always better the community,” Williams said. “They realized that year-round family fun entertainment is a must in Pullman, and aside from bowling or the movies, is very limited.”
C.J. cites the financial status of the company as “comfortable” and “enough to keep our doors open and the bills paid.”
“That’s all we ever wanted,” C.J. said. “We didn’t expect to be millionaires.”
Their business has become sort of a model for college kids looking to start up a unique business right out of college and has provided hope that these things are possible, even when you don’t think you can do it.
“You’re just going to learn as you go, and if you think you have an idea that would work and you think it would be competitive with the market around you and if you do enough market analysis to understand whether or not your business will be successful, then just go for it,” Quincy said.
Woytovech said that “shooting your shot” when you’re young is better than waiting around until your older.
“If you’re going to fail, you might as well fail at an early age while you can still afford to fail,” Woytovech said.
Fortunately for them, failure is no where in sight for the Cougar Entertainment Center.
Dec 12 2017
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
600 S. Washington PO Box 47200
Olympia, WA 98504-7200
Dear Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction ,
Pursuant to the state open records law Wash. Rev. Code Secs. 42.56.001 to 42.56.904, I write to request access to and a copy of Cougar Entertainment Center Business License and Alcohol Permit If your agency does not maintain these public records, please let me know who does and include the proper custodian’s name and address.
I agree to pay any reasonable copying and postage fees of not more than $20. If the cost would be greater than this amount, please notify me. Please provide a receipt indicating the charges for each document.
As provided by the open records law, I will expect your response within five (5) business days. See Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 42.56.520.
If you choose to deny this request, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemption(s) upon which you rely. Also, please provide all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material.
I would note that violation of the open records law can result in a fine — payable to me — of up to $100 for each day that I am denied access. Litigation costs, including reasonable attorney fees, may also be awarded. See Wash. Rev. Code Sec. 42.56.550(4).
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Tyler Shuey
1365 NE Brandi Way Churchill Down apt # MTH4
3608601094
Sources
- J. Roberts- co-owner of Cougar Entertainment Center- (509) 339-6114
- Quincy Roberts- co-owner of Cougar Entertainment Center- (509) 339-6114
- Alex Woytovech- co-owner of Cougar Entertainment Center- (509) 339-6114
- Garrett Williams, former GM of Cougar Entertainment Center- (509) 952-0656
I always have problems uploading my audio file of the interview. Ill try and send you an email of it. I can also meet with you and show it to you for proof.
Tyler Shuey 