Non-digital gaming at its finest is now in Estevan, with MTG, Pokemon, Dungeons and Dragons, board games, miniatures and much more.
Kessel Run Games out of Ottawa opened its second location in Estevan last Friday.
For Estevan's Cort and Staci Barker, the game store became the third business in their family. Cort is also a part-owner of Performance Pump Service alongside Kent Phillips, and Staci runs the summer concession out at Boundary Dam. While the other companies reflect their business interests, the new store mirrors the Barkers' hobbies and passions.
"I've always played games since I've been little. Growing up in our families, there always have been card games or whatever at grandma's table," Cort said.
While both Staci and Cort have always liked playing, they are into different types of games.
"I'm more into board games and conventional card games, where he's more into strategy card games," Staci said.
The new store will offer a wide variety of board games and strategy card games.
"When it comes to games, we are (Geek) Legion," says Kessel Run Games' motto on their Facebook page.
The store will also be a base for trading cards.
"It's pretty much anything from crib to Dungeons and Dragons. There's a pretty wide selection here. We are also going to offer card singles. So if you bring your cards in, we would take a look at them, grade them and possibly buy them off and then resell them," Cort explained.
Once the pandemic restrictions are eased or lifted, Kessel Run Games will also serve as a place where people can come and play.
"We look forward to doing gaming events and stuff like that when we open up more," Staci said.
Once they can do so, they will choose a game system and hold gaming events for everyone every week. Later on, they also plan on running leagues and tournaments that would involve gamers from other communities. Besides, they are looking forward to hosting monthly try-game nights, where people can come and try playing games that they are interested in.
"Whoever wants can come and play board games. If you like it, buy it; if you don't, come back next month and see if there's something you like that we try," Cort explained.
The original store is run by a family member. After talking about it for over a year, the Barkers decided to "put it into a nosedive," as Cort put it, and open a new location.
"We partnered with our brother-in-law, who had a current location in Ottawa, so we're actually just extending that out to Saskatchewan," said Cort.
Supply-wise, the pandemic made bringing a new business into Estevan a real puzzle. Kessel Run Games stocks up from suppliers all across the country, so getting everything they needed wasn't that easy. But Cort pointed out that it's a challenge that most companies have probably been through lately.
He added that if customers want something but the store doesn't have it in stock, he generally can get it in about a week.聽
The business, located at 1239 Fourth Street, employs four people not counting Staci and Cort. The store hours are Sunday-Wednesday noon-8 p.m., and Thursday-Saturday noon-10 p.m.
"Welcome everyone. Come check us out," Cort said.
