Located in Bristol, Virginia, The Traveling Bear Indoor Mini Golf is a dream turned reality for James Jarvis. James, a full-time welder, had always dreamed of owning his own business.
James realized there was a need in the region for more family-friendly indoor activities that the entire family could take part in. He turned his vision into reality when he opened the doors to his indoor mini golf space in July 2023.
Traveling Bear Indoor Mini Golf offers a space for families to host birthday parties complete with a concession stand, which is a highlight of the establishment. The mini-golf course was also uniquely designed and built by James, his friends, and family.
“Mini golf is universal family entertainment. Grandma, grandkids, mom, and dad, they can all participate,” said James. “So that makes it special to me.”
To bring his dream to life, James worked with People Incorporated on a small business loan. He used the loan to help close funding gaps before opening the facility. He was taken aback by how easy and fast the lending process was.
Through his business venture, James realized the importance of research, cost analysis, and tapping into support systems like People Inc. for business planning assistance. His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to “optimize every service that’s available to you.”
As a community-centric endeavor, The Traveling Bear Indoor Mini Golf proudly showcases sponsorships from local businesses on its mini-golf holes, fostering a spirit of collaboration and support within the local community.
James imagines expanding his business outreach by developing a portable 9-hole mini-golf course that can travel to various community events. Confident in this potential, James is grateful for the positive reception received thus far, noting, “I think it’s just a matter of getting my name out into the community because we get a world of positive feedback.”
With a blend of passion, community involvement, and entrepreneurial spirit, The Traveling Bear Indoor Mini Golf stands as a shining example of a small business success story in Bristol, Virginia.
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