Laserlite, a laser tag and arcade center located at 4505 E. Third St., is slated for closure on April 4 after 25 years in operation, according to the business’s Facebook page.
"It has been an absolute pleasure to be a part of this community. Thank you for allowing us to host and share so many special moments with you,” the March 19 post said.
Before becoming part-owner, Austin Reed said he had never played laser tag.
Reed, now the entertainment center’s owner, said a friend introduced him to Laserlite as a business opportunity in 2006. Reed soon after became part-owner.
During his initial years of co-ownership, Reed said Laserlite lost money. In 2009, sales took off and increased annually until 2017, months after Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park, a rival local entertainment center, opened in Bloomington. Laserlite ultimately recovered, he said. That same year, Reed became the business’s sole proprietor.
Despite a slow down in customers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Laserlite remained open. Reed said 2023 was the most profitable year for the business, with 2024 close behind.
With plans to generate rental income from Laserlite’s building after retiring, Reed said he bought the building in 2024.
Reed said he noticed the indoor amusement industry is shifting towards all-in-one facilities that offer multiple attractions, like roller skating and mini golf. In previous years, Laserlite had considered building an outdoor mini golf course, but Reed said he decided to wait because it would be a large investment.
In January 2025, Dave & Buster’s, an arcade, sports bar and restaurant, opened at College Mall. Reed said Dave & Buster’s was a direct competitor for Laserlite, though it catered to older customers.
Reed said Laserlite has not been profitable for about a year. Other local mom and pop shops, he said, may also be struggling with newfound competition.
“I always had a plan to retire in like 3 or 4 years from now,” he said. “At this point, it just wasn't worth the fight for me to, like, keep trying to keep it open when there's no money coming in.”
For Bloomington local Rosalynd Chante Elaine Doyle, Laserlite was a place for family bonding. She said her oldest child had multiple birthday parties there.
Doyle said she had continued to visit Laserlite even during her six years living in Indianapolis. She said visiting Laserlite was on her to-do list since moving back to Bloomington in October 2025. Doyle said she plans to bring her family one last time before the business closes.
“Laserlite was one of those places where you knew when you were going to go, you're going to have a good party,” she said. “They let you put up your own decorations if you wanted to. They had pizza there. My favorite part of it, as a parent, is that somebody else cleans up the party after you're done.”
Doyle also said she and her family enjoy the free range of Laserlite’s games, which adults and less experienced players could also participate in. However, affordability was major factor in why she has continued to visit the business.
She said visiting places like Dave & Buster’s, just with her family, was something she could afford only once a year.
Reed said he tried to raise prices as little as possible over the years he owned LaserLite.
Until its closure, laser tag games will cost $6 for one game and $13 for three games, reflecting the arcade’s pricing when it opened in 2000.
The lowered prices, Reed said, were a thank you to Bloomington’s community.
“We're not trying to make any money, you know, the next couple weeks,” he said. “We're just really hoping that people can come in and, you know, if they have any tickets that kids have been saving up for some time, and if anyone has any gift cards and that kind of stuff, they can come in ─ you know ─ have a good time with their families.”
Reed sold the property to Small Talk Pediatric Therapy LLC on March 16. Small Talk is a clinic for adolescents that offers services in speech, physical, occupational, feeding and mental health therapy.
Small Talk will open on May 4, according to the clinic’s Facebook page.
