This article was previously published on CambridgeToday.
It's not often a business returns to a city after it closes.
But Robert Bruski never took his eye off Cambridge as a destination for his virtual reality gaming company.
It helps that the franchise that closed wasn't due to a lack of interest but was a COVID-19 pandemic casualty, something many businesses experienced as people were forced to abandon social gatherings.
With life having returned to normal, Bruski is back and preparing to open a new location at 800 Franklin Blvd next month.
The building will be equipped with eight booths where people enter a unique metaverse to take part in single and multi-player games and activities. First person shooter, swimming with whales in the ocean, escape rooms, horror and puzzle games are all on the list of experiences.
"There's something for everyone," Bruski said.
"We're big with date nights, corporate events and birthday parties."
There's even been two instances where people used the virtual world to get engaged.
The idea for Ctrl V came about through another business venture Bruski was a part of. Along with other co-founders, they were in the process of releasing a cinema eyewear concept similar to 3D glasses, but the project never crossed the finish line.
Like true entrepreneurs do, Bruski decided to pivot.
"As we dove deeper into gaming, we found VR was going to be released for consumer use," he said.
"We thought, let's open up an arcade. Everyone thought we were nuts. No bank would give us a loan, no one believed in it."
As it turned out, Bruski was onto something as Ctrl V now has locations in Guelph, Waterloo, Mount Forest, Red Deer, Alta. and Plano, Texas.
The decision to return to Cambridge was an easy one given the demand that was seen for the former location prior to the pandemic. All it came down to was waiting for the right time.
"Once the economy improved we thought let's provide this product and service for that demand so we can satisfy it," he said.
As technology and virtual reality advances, Bruski is hoping to show the community a different side of entertainment.
"A five-star experience," Bruski said of what he wants to create for customers.
"Although everyone always says the VR was awesome and so fun, the one thing everyone references is the customer service. I know that's super cliché, but with VR being newer technology, a large majority haven't tried it yet. Having that customer service is important."
Ctrl V is hosting a grand opening on Feb. 15 with free demos.
