Story & Lesson Highlights with Gergely Maklari-Kis of West-Midtown

Gergely Maklari-Kis shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Gergely, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
One of the most surprising things I’ve learned is how differently customers approach the same experience. Some groups come in laser-focused and methodical, while others are playful and chaotic but still manage to solve the puzzles. It showed me that people value the experience in very different ways—sometimes it’s about winning, and sometimes it’s about laughing together and making memories.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m one of the owners of PanIQ Escape Room in Atlanta and Miami Beach, where we create fully immersive, story-driven escape room experiences. Each of our rooms is designed to transport players into a completely different world. For example, an ancient underwater city, a medieval dungeon, or a high-stakes cartel investigation. What makes us unique is the level of detail and cinematic atmosphere we put into every game, so guests don’t just solve puzzles. Right now, I’m focused on continuing to evolve these experiences, making them more interactive and memorable, while also growing our reach as a premier destination for both locals and visitors.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child I believed you had to pick one clear path and stick to it — one job, one label, one “right” way to be. I don’t believe that anymore. My career has shown me that you can be curious about lots of things, combine seemingly unrelated skills (pharmacy, project management, storytelling, business), and keep reinventing yourself. What matters is doing work you care about, learning fast, and bringing your full self to whatever you build — whether it’s a medicine cabinet or an immersive escape room.

When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
When I was sad or scared as a child, two things helped most: stories and small, steady routines. Reading a book or inventing little adventures let me step out of whatever was worrying me and gave me a sense of control. At home, simple rituals like tidying my desk, building something with my hands, or making a snack. Those things calmed me down because they turned chaos into something I could manage. This habit stuck with me and quietly influences how I run things now: create a comforting environment, give people a story to lean into, and focus on small, reliable actions that move the needle.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They’d say I care most about creating great experiences, doing work with high standards, and taking care of the people I work with. I’m obsessed with details that make something feel cinematic and real. I value honesty and reliability in both friends and partners, and I’ll always choose projects that let me learn and build something people remember. Beyond work, they’d say meaningful time with family and a small circle of trusted friends matters.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I’d want people to say I built more than games. I built places where strangers became a team, families made memories, and friends found stories they’d tell for years. That I cared obsessively about the details that make an experience feel real, and that I never cut corners on quality or imagination.

I’d want them to remember that I showed up during hard times. That I fought through bureaucratic headaches and slow seasons not for the paycheck but because I believed those moments of wonder were worth protecting. That I treated my team and customers with respect, pushed for excellence, and made a business that felt human.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://paniqescaperoom.com/atlanta/en
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paniqroomatlanta/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paniqroomatlanta
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PanIQEscapeRoomAtlanta

Image Credits
PanIQ Franchise