Farewell Adventure Cafe

The game cafe hardscrabble.

Waaay back in 2006, I had my last W-2 job. I worked for Reuters financial data systems, slinging C/C++ code for over a decade. They were bought and moved abroad in 2005. I stuck around for that sweet, sweet severance money until 2006. I put half of it in your regular old everyday faux-savings account the other half in a “Gaming Pub” account, where it rests today.

That’s the dream, right? I mean, it once was to own a gaming store; now, for me, at least, a gaming pub-cafe. I spent a few years researching and visiting Snakes & Lattes and other gaming cafes. I looked at local properties, various licenses, locations, and partners. Here in KC, getting an alcohol license is kind of baroque and very who-ya-know. It’s a rough path.

Adventure Cafe opened up in my town, literally walking distance from my place, maybe a year or so ago. I’ve visited a few times; maybe I should have gone more. They have closed the party down. The store wasn’t making enough to keep the lights on.

I still have visions of gaming cafe grandeur! I feel like you have to be a solid restaurant, a solid bar, and a solid coffee shop, in addition to running a con every week. Cardboard Corner KC, another game cafe across the state line from me, feels exactly like that. I wouldn’t even know where to start to assemble a team for that kind of adventure!

Best of luck and mad hugs to the Adventure Cafe folks. They were braver than me; they made the attempt. It’s a hard venture, for sure. I hope they roll crits on their next turn.