By Tracy Harmon
The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
WWR Article n lone d 100 Summary (tl;dr) Entrepreneurship is a family affair for the Barretts. A Colorado clan than likes to work hard and play hard.
The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
A couple of young entrepreneurs talked their father into helping them create a fun place for children to cut lose while their parents get a haircut.
Noah Barrett, 10, and his sister Kyla Barrett, 12, were persistent enough that B-Kidz Family Fun Center opened in Pueblo West in August.
“They kept bugging me saying we need something for kids to do in Pueblo West,” said Carols Barrett of Aguilar’s Family Hairstyling, 141 S. Purcell, Unit 140.
So Barrett moved the Aguilar’s Pueblo West branch next door into a large space that used to be a gym. It had been vacant for a year.
“We got the vision and the idea and ran with it. The kids are a big part of this because I am teaching them about business, a good work ethic and how to be entrepreneurs,” he said.
When they aren’t helping run the fun center, the Barrett siblings are helping their parents at the barber shops.
Kyla helps her mom Stacie at the Belmont Aguilar’s and Noah helps his dad at the Pueblo West branch.
Thanks to Kyla and Noah’s vision, while mom and dad are getting a color and a cut, their children can play arcade games like skee ball or a hoops shoot game. The arcade is open to the public and when there is enough business, B-Kidz will offer walk-in Nerf gun war options.
Right now, participants can round up teams and give Nerf gun wars a try by scheduling a party. With 20 guns available — some of them fully automatic and capable of quickly deploying 100 Nerf bullets — kids and adults alike can schedule time for a party.
Cost is $12 per person for a two-hour party and that includes two slices of Pizza King pizza and a soda.
“We get them into safety gear, divide them into blue and red teams and let them have a war battle. We also do three rounds of capture the flag,” Noah explained.
Noah also serves as DJ and spins some tunes for the gatherings.
“This is what the community needed — a place to play and have fun indoors in a supervised and safe environment,” Barrett said.
After the first of the year, kids also will be able to play laser tag too. The facility’s large hall, when it is not being used for Nerf gun wars, is ideal for family gatherings like wedding receptions or baby showers. The hall can seat 152 people at tables or about 200 with conference chair seating.
“Through the end of the year you can rent the hall for $250,” Barrett said.
The Barretts have helped run the Aguilar’s outlets in Pueblo, Pueblo West and Colorado Springs for the past seven years. The Aguilar family started the barbershop in 1972 and “We are carrying on the legacy,” Barrett said. “We love the Pueblo and Pueblo West communities.”
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. To book a party, call 719-569-7093.
