The city I used to live in had a couple, one was more focused on trading card games and running tournaments and just had a smallish board game collection, but the other was a proper cozy little cafe with walls full of great games. Sadly the latter one has had to shut down because of increasing rents.

My current town is a bit too small for something dedicated like that, but we do have a sort of hybrid place that hires out console time as well as has a small collection of board games for the cafe area. Since it’s a small town and not exactly moving with the times, a lot of the games are your basic family classics but I appreciate them trying. I’m sceptical that the place will last long though, most new businesses round here don’t.

Generally I do really like these places but our local one now isn’t the friendliest. And anywhere with a big focus on trading card games like the one in our previous city does, as much as I wish it wasn’t true, tend to attract a crowd with less than amazing hygiene. Plus they often seem more hostile to women than dedicated actual board game spaces, in my experience. It’s hard to attract a wider customer base when your core clientele are actively putting people off.