The Suite Life VR

The New Greensboro is a segment we have dedicated to the local businesses that are pushing the envelope when it comes to entertainment and tech! The businesses we have selected and interviewed are truly ahead of the game. It is our desire to see Greensboro enter the new millennium when it comes to music, fashion, gaming, and overall experiences. With our ears very close to the ground we have unearthed some very groundbreaking business models that we are excited to write about! Without further adieu, let’s jump right into our first interview.

The Suite Life 

“The first thing I wanted to do was rent out suites.” Brenda Ferrell details as she guides us down the hallway of her new venue. There are four of us in attendance. Comedian Jiwan Kapp, also known as Know Kapp, who made this interview possible, Brenda,  her assistant Omegga, and myself.  

Brenda Ferell, a serial entrepreneur, and tattoo artist has acquired a venue in which she has big plans. Located at 9 F Dundas Cir in Greensboro North Carolina, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found when I entered the building on that gorgeous Tuesday afternoon. Erykah Badu’s On & On hummed in the background as she pointed out the various suites inside the facility. She explained to me that her original plans for the venue didn’t quite go as she envisioned. 

Mrs. Ferrell also owns a hair salon across the street from The Suite Life. Often times patrons would inquire about renting suites which is what initially prompted her to start her new venture. 

“People didn’t want to rent the suites for branding, they wanted to rent the suites for projects. Projects that they were doing for a few days.”

This unexpected turn created space for new inspiration to set in. She received a post from her stepdaughter in Cincinnati of her and her friends doing virtual reality. That’s when the idea hit her. “ I said, that’s it! Virtual reality, gaming!” Sometime later Omegga also pitched her the idea and that’s when she knew. “I believe in the universe. I believe good things come in threes. I thought about it, my stepdaughter experienced it, and Omega said it. So I knew that was my cue.”

The Suite Life VR 

 The real world is cool, but why not leave it behind for a while? The addition of the VR experience sets The Suite Life apart from any other venue in the area. It also creates a unique opportunity for the community.

 The price point for an Oculus headset is about $400. With the current state of affairs in the US, this puts the tech out of reach for many families. With the VR experience The Suite Life is currently offering, tons of youth and adults in the community will now have that opportunity. For just $50 you can get an hour and a half of a one-of-a-kind VR experience. But gaming is just the beginning for Brenda. She sees where things are headed and plans to offer more. “I want to create a space in the metaverse and offer that as well.” She envisions VR concerts, tours, and more in the future. 

Not Just VR

VR is just one of the services you can get at The Suite Life; You can still rent suites, book their event room, and even do karaoke for an affordable price. They also look to start hosting events. One event idea that caught my attention was a virtual haunted house that could be coming as early as Halloween! We at Thrive Indie are excited about the future and can’t wait to see what The Suite Life has in store for Greensboro.