Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Potter.
Hi Michele, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
We started collecting board games to play with family in 2001…by the time Covid hit in 2019, we had over 300. Then as we grew our collection during the shutdown, our kids told us we had a choice: open that game store we’d always been talking about, or get turned in to the “Hoarders” TV show.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Our biggest challenge is often telling people just what we are. Board Game cafes are still relatively new and rare out here on the West Coast. We’re not a store where you go to buy games to take home, but a place to play them, here, at our venue. No, we’re not a coffee hop, though we sell coffee. Nope, not an antiques store either, though we see how the decor confuses some people. Eventually, most folks get the idea and settle in for some fun.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We started designing home haunts for Halloween over 20 years ago. When we were looking to open the store, that aesthetic naturally followed us home, like ghosts from the Haunted Mansion. Having a kid who is a mechanical engineer helps, as does one who is in game design and another currently majoring in the arts. We get a lot of raves for the “cozy” fantastical vibe we’ve created, and we’re always adding to it.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
No question: it’s all about the community. That’s not just a customer service issue – it’s that we’ve become a haven and “thirds space’ for students from UC Riverside, for gamers and nerds and geeks and other wonderful people throughout Riverside. They have given us so much reason to keep offering back to them.
Pricing:
- Daily entry is just $8 – cheaper than a movie ticket!
- Monthly membership is $20. Less than you spend on coffee, I’ll bet.
- We are also an event venue! Full buyouts can start as low as $400
Contact Info:
- Website: http://nevermoregameclub.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nevermoregameclub
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nevermoregameclub/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nevermore-game-club-riverside
