Inside Detroit’s First Free-Roam VR Club: An Interview with ANVIO’s Franchisee Terrance Webster

As we continue to bring ANVIO’s immersive free-roam virtual reality experiences to new markets across the U.S., we’re excited to introduce our latest franchise in Detroit, Michigan — our Midwest debut.

Located at 1030 Randolph Street in downtown Detroit, the venue is part of the city’s rapid revitalization, surrounded by thriving businesses and increasing foot traffic. Behind this exciting new venture is Terrance Webster, an ICU nurse and lifelong gamer, who has turned his passion for immersive entertainment into a business. We spoke with Terrance to discuss his journey into VR, why he chose ANVIO, and what it takes to open a successful VR location. His experience provides valuable insights for VR enthusiasts and aspiring franchise owners alike.

I first experienced free-roam VR gaming in Atlanta, I think it was in 2021. It was an amazing experience, but at the time I was living in LA. I wanted to do it again because I had so much fun, and I also wanted to bring my girlfriend along to share the experience. When I realized ANVIO was in Los Angeles, it was a no-brainer. We went there, had an awesome time. The experience was amazing, especially with the immersive fans they had. When the fans during the Zarya Station game came on, it felt like I was in a dust storm. It was such an experience that I almost forgot I was playing a game. It was even better than my first free-roam VR experience.

That first time I tried free-roam VR, I hadn’t experienced anything like it before. I have a VR headset of my own, but it’s nothing like free-roam. Being able to actually move around a room without worrying about bumping into things really makes you feel like you’re in a game. I’ve been a gamer my whole life, but experiencing that took it to another level. It was amazing. I knew right away, I had to be a part of this. I didn’t have any previous experience with this kind of location-based VR business, but after that first experience, I was all in.

Once I realized I wanted to open a VR gaming center, I spent a lot of time researching different options because I wasn’t sure which software or company to go with. But when I experienced ANVIO, it was a no-brainer.

ANVIO is amazing because as far as franchising goes, you guys are very supportive, and the fees compared to other places are way better. The quality is the same or better, so it was an obvious choice.

That took some time. I knew I wanted to be downtown because Detroit is growing fast, with so many new businesses opening up. The NFL draft alone brought nearly 800,000 people to the area, and I saw the potential in being part of that. My biggest concern wasn’t the experience. I know that once people try it, they’re gonna love it because there’s nothing like it. It was more about visibility, making sure people see it and give it a chance. That’s why I picked downtown — it’s a prime location where people will notice it.

This is a niche not a lot of people offer, and honestly, in Detroit, I don’t have any real competition. If someone looks for VR here, it’s gonna be me. And I’m gonna make sure they get the best quality experience possible, so they won’t have a reason to go anywhere else.

The venue is 2,865 square feet of open space, with a 40×40-foot gaming arena designed for immersive VR experiences. I have free-roam VR, standalone VR machines, a pool table, Xbox and PlayStation consoles. There’s also a private room for parties and events.

For equipment, I’m using the Meta Quest 2 VR headset. I thought about the Meta Quest 3, but it’s still pretty new, so I’m waiting for them to iron out any kinks. The Meta Quest 2 was what I used at ANVIO LA, and the experience was great. It wasn’t lagging at all. As they say, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

There were a few challenges. I mean, opening any business comes with a learning curve, and since this was new to me, educating myself on everything was a big part of the process. Learning more about the VR space, the competition, what works, and what doesn’t work. So I guess just being new to the industry was the most challenging thing.

I’m the sole owner, but I do have a team helping me out. For marketing, I’ve been testing out Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. It’s been pretty good — in fact it’s been really good. I’m also working with a couple of social influencers and plan to advertise on some big Instagram pages that a lot of local people follow. I’ve got a whole list of different things I wanna try out.

ANVIO has been incredibly supportive throughout this whole process. I’m part of a group chat with their knowledgeable engineers who help me with everything — from sending me the attachments I need to answering even the simplest questions. The support has been incredible. They’ve helped me with everything, from choosing flooring to selecting the right colors, just by looking at my floor plan and giving their input. I’d say the group chat has been the number one source of support throughout this process. On top of that, ANVIO provided a lot of valuable marketing materials.

One of the most memorable moments for me was receiving updates on the custom-made standalone machines I ordered from China. They feature different ANVIO games. When they sent me pictures of the development of my build-out and that it was finished, it got me very excited — like watching the floors become polished and the ceilings get painted. Every step of the way has been an exciting milestone. For example, receiving the equipment I needed, like the tactical vests we use. Watching everything come to life has been exhilarating.

If you’re considering opening an ANVIO franchise, I’d say go for it! ANVIO has been incredibly supportive, and the experience has been fantastic. If gaming is something you’re passionate about, you’ll enjoy every step of the journey.

If I were to start over, the biggest thing for me would be understanding that it’s gonna take time. You just have to be patient and have a lot of perseverance. Because, I mean, since I started this business, so much has changed. There are always a lot of moving parts. I’d tell anyone to just stick with it and keep going, even when things don’t go exactly as planned. For example, my locations changed, and I had to adapt along the way. The key is to stay consistent, work hard, and trust that it’ll all come together.