By Aubree Devisser | Echo
Taylor employees by day, archery experts by night. Robin and Don Perry spend their days on Taylor's campus then return home to run Perry's Archery Center in the evenings.
During the recent recession, the Perrys shut down their previous business and began searching for new jobs. Frustrated by their other prospects, the couple applied at Taylor and were successful in finding positions.
Don was hired for a part time position at the post office, while Robin worked (and currently works) as an English Hall housekeeper. Don now works at the post office full time.
Despite the full-time positions, they didn't stop there. They decided to open an archery facility, creating a place for members of the community, in addition to nearby college students, to try their hand at the engaging sport.
The idea came about from sitting in one of the nearby buildings next to the Perry's home. As owners of the buildings, the Perry's were free to do what they wanted with them.
"(Robin) said 'Well, why don't you open an archery shop?' So we decided to open an archery shop," Don explained.
The Perrys took the idea and ran with it, putting in every effort to provide an exciting, pressure-free recreational escape for people at any skill level.
Taylor students have used Perry's Archery Center for pick-a-dates in the past, which has taught the owners to be prepared for large groups. The Perrys decided to schedule large Taylor groups at times outside of normal business hours. The couple takes time out of their busy lives in order to meet students' needs.
"(We schedule the groups at different times) just so students have the whole facility. Normally there's enough of them nobody else can come, and it gets really loud," Don said.
Taylor students, loud? Who knew? The Perrys have hosted pick-a-dates with up to 20 couples. At $8 a person, students get access to bows and arrows and can explore the outdoor shooting range or work on their aim with indoor target practice.
Don also sells archery equipment at the shop and is willing to work with customers to get what they need.
Whether community members searching for a pick-a-date venue, a date night idea or an activity in the middle of all these cornfields, Perry's Archery Center has options for all ages.
The range is located only 10 minutes from campus and is open from 5-9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday between September and May. From June through August, the shop is open from 5-9 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday.
"We enjoy having the young people around, (they're) helping keep us young. They're always friendly," Don said. "It's a family-orientated place, and it's very casual, (so) there's no pressure; I start them out from scratch."
You don't need to be Robin Hood to have a great time at the Archery Center. The Perrys work hard to accommodate your level of ability and group size. If they can handle pick-a-dates, they can handle anything.
"We want to end up being on (students') bucket list," Robin said.
This year marks the sixth year they've been open, and the Perry's archery shop is quickly becoming a local hotspot as they continue to draw in customers from the Hartford City area and beyond.
For more information, check out the Perry's Archery Center's Facebook page for details.
