A new escape room concept is opening next month on the south side.
Dubbed 417 Escape Artist LLC, the 2147 W. Republic Road business at Republic Plaza would challenge customers to escape one of four rooms via a variety of clues and puzzles. An initial opening is scheduled April 14, followed by an early May grand opening.
“Our big goal is to get friends and families out interacting with each other again,” said Ann Sherman, who co-owns the business with friend Jennifer Strazzinski.
Tickets are $18 for children and $25 for adults, who can solve puzzles related to a World War II physicist, a shady New York stock broker and a dimensional shift caused by a magician. A fourth room is dedicated to children ages 7-12, which factors into the owners’ plan to make 417 Escape Artist family friendly.
“The ones that we have gone to, none of them are directed toward kids,” Sherman said.
Inspired by an escape room in Kansas City, Sherman said she and Strazzinski have long planned the business but multiple factors delayed the opening.
“We didn’t have the funds, resources and time to get it started,” she said, declining to disclose investment costs.
The owners signed a three-year lease with Republic Plaza RCM Properties LLC for $2,000 a month.
417 Escape Artist joins Springfield escape room Clue Pursuit, which got its start in
February 2015 at 1701 S. Campbell Ave.
In January, Clue Pursuit owners Ken and Maranda Mills opened a second location in Kansas City.
