Game on

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/07/2018 (2853 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Walk into A Muse N Games on Portage Avenue and you’ll be greeted by a flood of natural light, shelves stacked with colourful boxes and a friendly face behind the counter. 

“Gaming tends to often have a stigma of teenage guys in a basement…we really want to bring gaming out into the light,” said Scotia Buchan, who co-owns the board game store with her partner Brian Mitchell. 

Buchan and Mitchell opened A Muse N Games in St. James in 2014 and moved to their current location at 1783 Portage Ave. in November 2016. In four short years, the business has become a hub for board game enthusiasts across the city.

“The local community here in St. James embraced us, but the city as a whole embraced us,” Mitchell said. “We have customers who drive from Transcona a couple of times a week just to be part of the community.”

One reason for the business’ success thus far is the combined expertise of its owners — Buchan has a background in retail and Mitchell has been involved in the game industry for years. Games have also been a fixture in their personal life.

“We actually met over board games,” Buchan said.

“I saw her picture on a dating site and I happened to notice a Settlers of Catan board game in the background,” Mitchell explained.

When an unplanned career change and a lease opportunity collided, the pair decided it was the right time to bring their passion for board games to the public. The goal was to create a combination retail and gaming space that was accessible and inclusive. 

“We were realizing that there are a lot of people who want to play board games, but they don’t necessarily know how,” Mitchell said. 

In addition to selling games, art supplies and locally made geek crafts, A Muse N Games has a large demo library where shoppers are encouraged to try games before they buy. The store also hosts game events seven days a week. Creating a safe space at these in-person meetups was a priority for the owners.

“We don’t tolerate prejudice at our store,” Buchan said. “We have had a number of our players transition since we’ve been open and they’ve said that this is one of the first public places that they’ve felt comfortable.”

Cyarra Pelda is one such customer. She has been going to A Muse N Games since 2014 and attends board game events several times a week.

“I’m trans and I’ve never had an issue there…it’s a very open, accepting space,” Pelda said. “I’ve met new friends there…games have an amazing power to bring people together.”

On August 4, the store is releasing new games and unveiling new demos during an event called Gen Can’t from 12 to 6 pm.

 Visit amusengames.ca or find A Muse N Games on Facebook for more information on the store’s weekly activities.