River City Six – John Comstock
Meet John Comstock, owner of House of Conundrum – Omaha Escape Room.
Tell us a little about your business.
We create adventures in our escape rooms which are designed to take people to another place in time. Each room requires people to accomplish some type of objective by finding clues and solving puzzles. The experience takes about an hour to complete, and the rooms have different levels of difficulty. The average percentage of people who can get through an escape room without any additional hints and help from staff is below 28%. We have many families and business teams walk through our doors in search of some fun, unique bonding time.
How did you get started in the business?
About four years ago, my family and I did our first escape room experience together. I was in property management at the time, but I was ready for something new. Getting into the escape room business sounded like fun, and it has been!
What has been your most important achievement professionally?
I’ve very proud of the fact that House of Conundrum has nine rooms, making us the biggest escape room in the area. We also have a banquet hall and lobby that allow us to host groups of 80+ people. They can eat, drink, and then all go into the different rooms at once! Bringing more adventure into people’s lives has become my passion.
Tell us a little about your family.
My wife and I have three kids. The oldest, Price, lives in New York and helps me here and there with the tech side of the business. My daughter, Claire, has been a big part of running House of Conundrum. She and I are both left-handed and right-brained. My youngest, Will, is starting to do more work at the venue as well. It’s special to me to have my family involved the business.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?
I graduated with degrees in biology, history, and secondary education. After substitute teaching, I realized I didn’t want to become a teacher. I ended up partnering with the guy who owned the house I was living in at the time. It really needed fixing up, and I offered to help. That is how I got into property management. I’m thankful for my education in biology and history because I can apply that thinking to the design of the escape rooms I oversee now, many of which are sci-fi themed.
Who inspires you?
My dad and his entrepreneurial spirit.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be?
Believer.
If you had a theme song, what would it be?
“Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen.
If you could have a super power, what would it be?
To be two places at once.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Better organization.
What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why?
We donate a lot of escape room packages to charity fundraisers as auction items. I personally love Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands. I’m actually still friends with my “Little” who is like 40 years old now.
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?
The Bible.
What is your favorite movie?
Braveheart.
What is your favorite local restaurant?
Umami Asian Cuisine in Bellevue.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?
Phone: (402) 910-5114; Email: john.bbjf@gmail.com; Website: www.houseofconundrum.com.