Team Tactics Laser Tag Begins To Bounce Back From Pandemic

WOODBRIDGE, VA — In March 2020, the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on small businesses across the country. Team Tactics, a locally-owned laser tag facility in Woodbridge, was no exception.

Now, as eviction moratoriums begin to expire and society copes with the emerging delta variant, small businesses like Team Tactics try to find a new normal.

Tanya Cooley owns and operates Team Tactics with her brother, Josh Cooley. The facility, located at 3045 Golansky Blvd in Woodbridge, is in its third year of operation.

"We closed in March of 2020, when the governor of Virginia required us to. We honestly didn’t know if we would make it," Tanya Cooley said. "We were so new, and we were extremely worried about losing our customers and our staff."

To stay afloat during the toughest parts of the pandemic, Team Tactics applied for and received several small business loans. In total, more than 100,000 businesses in Virginia received paycheck protection program loans from the federal government.

See also: PPP Loans Benefited Woodbridge Businesses

"Honestly, I don’t know what we would have done without that help," Cooley said. "We took a deep breath, crossed our fingers, we kept paying our employees, cut other expenses where we could, and hoped for the best."

Even when they were required to shut their doors and weather the storm, the folks at Team Tactics felt the love from their community. They received messages and well wishes from customers, who hoped that Woodbridge's only remaining laser tag facility would survive the pandemic.

"Luckily, we had a lot of people rooting for us and got support when we needed it," Cooley said. "I can’t tell you how much that meant to us."

Throughout the summer, people have become more comfortable returning to their pre-pandemic activities. Team Tactics reported that July 2021 has been their best month ever.

Still, as concerns about the delta variant continue to grow, they are taking precautions. Team Tactics employees wear masks on shift, and masks are required for unvaccinated guests.

Team Tactics prides themselves on offering something for everyone. Their experiences aren't limited to children's birthday parties, as they also enjoy hosting Marines from Quantico, local sports teams, and even bachelor and bachelorette parties.

Tanya Cooley emphasized that mostly, they're just glad to still be around. "We are thrilled that customers have decided that we are a safe and comfortable place, and it’s great to see people having fun again," Cooley said. "And I have to say that I’m proud of the way we adapted to the challenges and have been able, so far, to weather the storm."