Old Dominion News

Paul and Cheryl Wood opened Rush Hour Live Escape Games in Fredericksburg in 2017. The facility, located in the Spotsylvania Towne Center Mall, features six escape rooms where players collaborate to solve puzzles and "escape" the themed room before time expires.

Paul Wood discussed the challenges of managing a small business.

On becoming a small business owner, he stated, "We wanted to open an escape room business because we’ve had so much fun playing them!"

Wood identified inflation as a significant challenge for local small business owners: "The economy is very soft right now and it shows. My business volume is down 15% year over year from this same time last year. We are a luxury entertainment product, and we understand that what we offer is expensive, but it has to be. It is a bespoke event just for you and your closest friends."

Regarding his membership with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Wood explained his motivation: "I want to get the information to our politicians at every level on how the laws and business climate are affecting my business and other businesses."

He also shared how NFIB has been beneficial: "I find the briefs and information coming from NFIB to be very helpful in helping me understand how the law works or doesn’t work, and how it affects my business."

Wood has participated in both federal and state-level NFIB Fly-Ins. He appreciates these events for providing direct communication with political leaders: "It is good to give those leaders enough information directly from business owners."

His advice for new NFIB members is proactive engagement: "Get as involved as you can. Answer the surveys, send the emails, make the calls, and attend the Fly-In."