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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Local business owner Tommie Baugh has begun work on a new business venture to bring something for young people in the community to enjoy.

Game Zone of Clanton will feature laser tag, an arcade, space for birthday parties and a food area selling pizza and hot dogs.

“We are going to have two big birthday party rooms, so we will be able to take a whole team event or a birthday party,” Baugh said.

The two-level laser tag arena will be able to accommodate 34 players at a time. The arena will be 6,000 square feet.

Reservations are being accepted for parties in December, but Baugh said he hopes to have a soft opening before then.

“Ava is my daughter. She’s 11,” Baugh said. “Whenever we do birthday parties or softball team events, we usually have to go out of town to do it because there is nowhere around here to do it.”

Many times, they went to Game Zone in Oak Mountain. When Baugh heard the owner was looking to get out of the business, he saw an opportunity.

“It really seemed like something needed to be brought here, and it seemed like nobody else was really doing it,” Baugh said. “I took the initiative to step out on that limb and see what happens.”

Baugh purchased the assets and equipment and will be opening the Clanton location adjacent to his current business Baugh Ford.

The building located at 1670 Seventh Street North, has been empty since New Life Community Church relocated in February.

Former Game Zone owner Tony Oddo has offered to give Baugh advice on running the business. Oddo has 20 years of experience in the business.

“Renovation has already started,” Baugh said.

Much of the renovation includes taking down interior walls to open up the space.

He said all of the work is being done by local companies.

An engineer with a black light company will come to make sure all of the equipment is set up correctly and all the systems are working properly.

Once the facility is up and running, Baugh expects to have three full-time employees and two or three part-time employees.

“It’s very new to me,” Baugh said. “I’ve always just been in the car business.”

He said he is looking for “the adventure” of something new.

The biggest difference for the new business will be “my clientele will be a lot younger,” he said.