The Waypoint VRcade near the intersection of Grape and Edison in Mishawaka had their grand opening on February 28th.

However, just two weeks later, they were shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s hard to open a business normally, but it’s even harder when you are shut down just two weeks after opening,” said Todd Van Leeuwen, owner of Waypoint Arcade.

The shut down closed their newly open doors, but that did not mean Waypoint was finished.

“Seriously where there is a will there is a waypoint,” said Van Leeuwen.

This has become the new motto and brand name for the arcade’s newest venture: hand sanitizer and home products.

“Well it’s one of the few things we can do to help supply the community with something they can’t get right now, that actually helps keep people healthy,” said Van Leeuwen.

The hand sanitizer was already a thought in the owners minds because they wanted to have their own cleansers to clean their gaming equipment.

Taking the leap into hand sanitizer was not too far off, but it certainly took a lot of effort.

“Were a brand new business that got shut down within the first two weeks of opening and we are again trying to make the best product we can. And make it affordable and also try and give back to the community. So for every bottle that we sell, we’ll be donating one to first responders,” said Van Leeuwen.

Van Leeuwen has become a part time scientist while at home in quarantine creating and perfecting the perfect hand sanitizer and soap products that hold quality as number one.

The formula currently being sold is hospital grade, with a 70% alcohol content, and is PH balanced to help keep your hands as clean and non-cracked as possible.

“We wanted it to be Hospital grade because we’re going to be donating it to hospitals, and medical offices and police departments and fire departments.”

Every bottle, of the 1500 currently available this weekend, bought equals one bottle being donated back to support keeping our local front line workers healthy.

“Everything I put into the sanitizer was with the first responders in mind,” said Van Leeuwen.

They are also trying to be environmentally conscious by using glass bottle for packaging.

Van Leeuwen does make the distinction that the hand sanitizers being donated will be in plastic bottles so first responders can keep them in their pockets or wherever else is easily accessible.

This venture is not only to help those working on the front lines.

“I’m trying to keep our employees employed, I’m trying to give the community something that can keep them safe, hopefully help generate some revenue for the business and keep us going so we can open again when this is all over,” said Van Leeuwen.

While the doors may be currently closed, Waypoint is not giving up on making the Michiana community their number 1 priority.

“While we could essentially open to a degree right now, we feel like it’s more important to stay focused on the health and well being of the community,” said Van Leeuwen.

Now the goal is to get Michiana back on track by staying healthy so small, locally owned businesses like the Waypoint VRcade, can come back stronger than ever.

“We don’t give up. We will fight until our very last breath that we got to continue to give the people what they want and the best version of that that they could have. It means a lot to me and this is one of our best chances of continuing to stay afloat through the coronavirus situation,” said Van Leeuwen.

If you are interested in purchasing the hand sanitizer or other soap products you can do so this weekend curbside at the Waypoint VRcade near the intersection of Grape and Edison Road in Mishawaka starting:

• Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.
• Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

The hand sanitizer bottles are $10 a piece or you can mix match hand sanitizers and soaps 3 for $25.

Originally posted on ABC57 by Summer Horan: Link »

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The video arcade is making a comeback, but immersive gaming is the new hot ticket. Some people though may find it difficult due to the amount of sensory overload happening. Places like The Waypoint VRcade are making sure everyone can enjoy gaming in virtual reality.

This was originally posted on EducationCounts_Michiana. Link »

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A new development will soon take shape in a major retail corridor in Mishawaka.

The post Mishawaka development proposed to bring businesses like Raising Cane’s and Mission BBQ appeared first on The Waypoint VRCade.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday for the new arcade and is now open to the public!

The virtual reality arcade is located in the St. Andrews Plaza on Edison Road.

It’s the largest virtual reality video game-based entertainment center in the United States, with free roaming VR along with 4 other platforms.

Along with the multiple VR experiences there are also old arcade games as well as old gaming consoles like the Atari available as well.

All of the equipment is sanitized and deeply cleaned each and every time any of the equipment is used.

Prices will range from $10 to more than $100 based on what games and experiences you are looking to have.

The building and games are able to be reserved as well as special rooms where businesses or groups can set up for parties, events, and other activities.

Originally posted on ABC-57 by Summer Horan: Link »

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The Waypoint VRcade is the largest virtual reality based-entertainment center in the country – and it opened Friday right here in Mishawaka.

We you got a sneak peek earlier this morning.

Honestly it’s something you’d have to get in and experience to fully grasp.

The rooms might not look like much but once you put on the goggles….

“Now, instead of controlling a player, you are the player,” says Todd Van Leeuwen, owner.

Hundreds of games that range from horror, to shooters, to family friendly. Van Leeuwen says there’s something for everyone.

Everything is wireless, allowing you to roam through the many twists and turns. They do have sensors that tell you where a wall or another player is.

With each game providing different experiences, Van Leeuwen says there’s power in video games.

“When I was the smallest kid at school, I got beat up all the time. I always wanted to be the superhero. So In video games I could be.”

Being the largest virtual reality center in the country, he hopes it will bring people from all over. But it also fills a void.

“The secret to attracting people here is having fun things for them to do,” said Jeff Rea, South Bend Regional Chamber CEO. “To have that sort of big city experience, to have the latest state of the art technology, to have a place where the family can come and have fun, we think is really significant.”

But it won’t be just for fun and games. Police and military members will be able to train there.

“You’re going to have more training, better training, more often and at a much reduced cost,” said Van Leeuwen.

Their hope is to give back to the entire community.

“Here this is going to be a home for everybody, it doesn’t matter what your interests are. We are just trying to make a safe place and something to do for everybody.”

Autistic himself, Van Leeuwen says they made sure they can reduce the sensory stimulators so they can play comfortably too.

Being in the middle of the shopping center of Mishawaka, Rea says this will not only become a destination but provide a boost to the area as a whole.

Originally posted on WSBT-22 by DJ Manou: Link »

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WSBT 22’s Brie Isom visited this morning, and they have a lot of different family friendly activities.

Waypoint VRcade is located at 620 W Edison Rd Suite 140, Mishawaka, IN 46545. Their grand opening is at 4 p.m. on Friday and will include free food and beverages.

Visit their Facebook page here, or take a sneak peek below.

Originally posted on WSBT-22 by Brie Isom: Link »

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“The best thing I could do was go to an arcade back in the day,” Van Leeuwen said. “I was trying to find a place where everybody could go and feel like they belong.”

Van Leeuwen, who is a financial adviser by trade, has always been a gamer and when he went to Las Vegas for his bachelor party in 2018, he discovered that the beloved hobby might blossom into something more.

He experienced Zero Latency, a free-roam virtual reality, at the MGM Grand and as soon as the party was done with their first game, Van Leeuwen couldn’t help but think about how he could bring it back home with him.

“I came home and I said two things to my now-wife. First is, I love you more now than I did before I left and I loved you a lot before I left,” Van Leeuwen said. “And number two, I have an idea.”

Van Leeuwen gave a five minute pitch to his wife, Jennifer, and she said to go for it.

Two years and over 70 funding rejections later, Van Leeuwen, along with the other handful of co-owners, are sleeping on rolls of unused carpeting in what will soon be Waypoint VRcade putting final touches on what is their dream come true.

The 15,000 square foot virtual reality arcade on W. Edison Road in Mishawaka’s St. Andrew’s Plaza will celebrate its official grand opening on February 28.

Van Leeuwen’s first major undertaking as an entrepreneur is not only a nod to his love of video games, but a pathway for him to help others experience worlds and places they might not be able to access physically.

Among the groups of people he hopes to help are those with autism, a condition that Van Leeuwen himself lives with.

“There are a lot of things that can impede the ability to go out and have fun and feel like you belong,” Van Leeuwen said. “I want to be able to work with them and create a way to allow for people like myself, who are more hindered by autism, to come out and have fun and feel like they can be somewhere and belong somewhere.”

With the new venture, Van Leeuwen also wants to help those battling dementia and Alzheimer’s.

“My grandfather has Alzheimer’s. The only thing he remembers at this point is his military service and his hometown in California,” Van Leeuwen said, adding that he hopes to be able to bring his grandpa back to the places he is able to recall fondly.

Van Leeuwen hopes to partner with local organizations to create opportunities for people of all means to be able to experience virtual reality.

Waypoint VRcade will focus on free-roaming, untethered virtual reality that allows groups of up to eight players to go in and experience it all together in a 2,000 square foot Zero Latency platform.

“You can collectively take on the zombie apocalypse in real life or you can explore new worlds and have mind bending experiences with gravity and puzzles and quests,” Van Leeuwen said.

Van Leeuwen said there are less than fifty Zero Latency set-ups in existence and Waypoint’s is one of the largest.

Other smaller stalls will allow players standing or sitting virtual reality experiences while additional treadmill-like machines let players run as fast as they’d like through the experience.

Individuals and groups looking to experience virtual reality at Waypoint VRcade can pre-book online. Private parties and corporate events will be able to rent out space or the entire VRcade.

The starting hours of operation following the grand opening on February 28 will be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Pre-packaged food and drinks will be available for purchase at a small café inside of the VRcade. Moving forward, Van Leeuwen hopes to bring in local food trucks for busier days and events.

While players wait for their turn, classic Atari and Nintendo games will be available to use.

In the future, esports gaming PCs and consoles will also be featured in the space.

Originally posted on ABC 57, by Shannon Nolan: Link »

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