Owners seek to build community one game at a time

Modern technology, like smartphones, has changed our lives, you can have instant access to information, friends and a wide variety of entertainment options, including games that can be played alone or online with others.

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2016-06-29 / Front Page Owners seek to build community one game at a time NEIL P. ALLEN Owners of Dark Mountain Games, Kevin Kellow (left) and Scott Cleveland (right) stand with employee Richard Cleveland (center). — NEIL P.ALLEN Owners of Dark Mountain Games, Kevin Kellow (left) and Scott Cleveland (right) stand with employee Richard Cleveland (center). — NEIL P.ALLEN Modern technology, like smartphones, has changed our lives. You can have instant access to information, friends and a wide variety of entertainment options, including games that can be played alone or online with others. For Scott Cleveland and Kevin Kellow, long-time gamers and owners of Dark Mountain Games in Springfield, this is something they hope to change that one board game at a time. Their mission statement says it all — reconnecting people through face to face social interaction. “People can’t sit through a meal without staring at their phone. They are losing the ability to interact with people,” said Kellow. “They don’t understand body language.” The tables and collection of games for visitors to play encourage people to communicate and get to know other people they might not have otherwise. “The store brings in people from all walks of life. A factory worker and a kitchen worker can sit down at a table and have nothing in common but by the end of the game, they’ve created a bond,” Cleveland said. “It is a huge gathering of introverts,” Kellow added. “I was an avid online gamer. I met [Cleveland’s] daughter and I became more social. I’d send out a blanket invitation to come play a game and 12 people would show up. I needed a bigger living room.” Proof of the community they’ve been building was shown when they moved in May. “When we were getting ready to move, a lot of people said, ‘let me know when you’re ready to move.’ I posted on Facebook that I was going to be showing up with a truck at 8:30 and 25 people were there when I pulled up,” said Kellow. “We were moved in two hours,” Cleveland added. Cleveland and Kellow, father- and son-in-laws, started the business last summer at the Springfield Farmers Market, they spent six months at another location in town then moved to their current location in May. “We were sitting around the kitchen, and said the town needed a game store,” said Kellow. “We knew there was a tremendous amount of board game players in the area. We knew the market was there, we hoped it would be enough to support a store. From day one it was self-sustaining.” The store features board games for children to adults as well as card and role playing games. They have miniatures painted by Kellow and his daughter as well as other gaming gear. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, they can special order it. Every Monday night is open board game night, on Tuesdays X-wing players gather, and Fridays are for Magic the Gathering card players. On the weekends, Pathfinder, an evolution of Dungeon & Dragon, players gather. “Even though we say Monday is open board game night, it is really every night,” said Kellow. The store is open daily. Cleveland’s son Richard helps out during the day when he’s not in school and Kellow’s daughter helps afterschool until the owners can get there after their full-time jobs are done for the day. They also have a loyalty program. For every $10 you spend in the store, you get a specially-designed coin worth $1 towards your next purchase. One of the biggest frustrations for them is how people don’t understand what the board game industry has become. “People think it’s a kid's store,” said Kellow. “They don’t understand how the industry has changed. They’ve moved so far. They don’t understand how engaging the games are and how they can develop connections. It is beyond competitive, its cooperative. “We have a theme for everyone,” he continued. For more information about Dark Mountain Games, visit online on Facebook at facebook.com/darkmountaingames and their website at darkmountaingames.com.