Arcade, laser tag arena proposed

Three business partners are hoping to convert the former Super Fresh at South Sherwood Forest and Coursey boulevards into a young-adult-oriented destination with a bowling alley, arcade, laser tag arena, bar and restaurant.

The group, which consists of Collis Temple III, Ryan Curtis and Marlon Moore, will spend about $2 million converting the 38,000-square-foot former grocery store in the venue, which will be called Quarters, Curtis said Monday after the plan was approved by the city-parish Planning Commission.

Curtis said Quarters could be open by October.

Curtis, 27 and an LSU graduate, said he’s been dreaming of making a place like Quarters happen in Baton Rouge since he was 20. He said Baton Rouge needs places where young adults can go have fun that aren’t just bars and nightclubs.

“Our first intention was to fill the void with the young-adult and true-adult crowd,” he said. “Somewhere you can hang out and not have the typical pressures of being in a bar or club.”

Curtis said Quarters’ concept is similar to the national chain Dave & Busters. It will be a place for children and families as well, but after 8 p.m. anyone under 18 will have to be accompanied by an adult.

The laser tag won’t be a traditional laser tag format, but one that focuses on team-based objectives like capture the flag.

Players hit too many times will have to return to their end zone to recharge, and variations on the game will let players reactivate their own teammates.

Curtis said the Quarters’ bowling component will be something called “boutique bowling.” Lanes will have screens above them that can show televised sporting events, and the seats will be couches with lounge tables and wait service.

“It kinda amps up the average level of bowling experience that we have here in Baton Rouge,” he said.

The game area will have arcade games and basketball and ski ball games, but the prizes will go beyond fare for children and include items like kitchen appliances or football tickets to appeal to adults.

The vote was 5-1, with commissioners Tara Wicker, Darius Bonton, Sarah Holliday-James, Laurie Marien and Martha Jane Tassin voting to approve; Audrey Nabors Jackson voted against.

Also on Monday, Lipseys Wholesale Firearms was unanimously granted approval to put a new location on Exchequer Drive at Reiger Road.

The building would replace the existing location down the street and would include 46,539 square feet of warehouse and 30,311 square feet of office space.