Holiday parties, corporate events and birthday celebrations are already booking for an indoor trampoline business that's opening this weekend in Troy.
The pre-opening interest is showing the Ohio couple who left successful careers in Columbus to start
AirTime Trampoline & Game Park that their idea has some major bounce.
Pam and Will Wannemacher have renovated a 31,000-square-foot space at busy Rochester and 16 Mile roads as they launch what they expect to be a franchise. Two more openings are already in the planning.
"It is our own creation," she says. "We're planning two more in the Detroit area…We absolutely love it here…We looked all over the country for locations: Austin, Texas, Charlotte, Philly, Miami. We decided on Detroit ."
In Troy, where there is 15,000 square feet of trampolines, some interconnected so jumpers can "literally bounce off the walls," Pam Wannemacher says, the couple have hired 70 employees, 30 of them full time.
"We've been absolutely thrilled with the quality of people we've hired," she says.
It was Detroit's down real estate market and retail space prices that weren't as "astronomical" as other cities that brought them to Michigan. Their location near REI, Norstrom Rack and other high traffic retailers was key, she says.
The anticipation of the opening comes through on AirTime's Facebook page, and the owners have decided to make Friday the sneak peak day for its Facebook fans. Saturday will be open to the public. Tuesday will be the official grand opening.
Pam originally owned a commercial cleaning company and had been in public relations and marketing for AT&T and BankOne while Bill was in construction for a national restaurant group. The two decided it was time for something new.
"It was a big risk, a big lifestyle change," she says. "But we weren't just spinning a wheel and hoping for good luck. Detroit has the demographics and the market for a business like ours to grow."
Writer: Kim North Shine
Source: Pam Wannemacher, co-owner and operator Air Time Trampoline & Game Park
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