TableTop Gaming moves to larger location

SYRACUSE — If you remember family game nights growing up, TableTop Gaming hopes you’ll stop by. When you do, you can bring your family or friends, shop for games, or even hang out and play games. The worker co-op first opened in August 2022 on Harrison Street in downtown Syracuse and recently moved to a new larger location at 466 S. Salina St. The 1,500-square-foot space, which also features a bar, is part of the company’s plans to expand the business, says store manager Elvis Mehmedovic. “It’s like a board game café,” he says of TableTop Gaming. TableTop hosts weekly game tournaments, including trading card games like Magic the Gathering. “We also have a free-play wall and our board games.” The free wall is exactly that. It’s stocked with games that people can come in and play at no cost. “Instead of hosting something at their house, people may come here and host a game night,” Mehmedovic says. “If people play a game and they like it, they can buy a copy for themselves.” Especially in the wake of the forced isolation of the pandemic, people seem to be craving opportunities to get together, he says, and TableTop Gaming provides that. “It’s a pretty decent spot,” Mehmedovic says. “It’s got a nice rustic vibe.” Similar to how vinyl records are coming back into style, games are also seeing an increase in popularity. Especially with more people working desk jobs or working from home, the opportunity to gather and get away from a screen for a while is appealing, Mehmedovic says. “There’s a bit of nostalgia that comes with it.” In the new location, the café can provide an even more welcoming environment complete with drinks and snacks, he adds. TableTop plans to work with local breweries to offer local beer options at the new bar. Menu offers will be on the lighter vegan side with an aim at healthy foods – and ones that won’t do any damage to the games. TableTop Gaming’s target audience is mainly ages 25 through about 50, but really, it’s a place for anyone who enjoys playing a good game, Mehmedovic says. Word has slowly been getting out through the weekly tournaments, and the entry fees from those events, along with retail sales, are the main sources of revenue. TableTop offers prices 10 percent below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price and also sells through an online store. Different from big box stores, which tend to stock just a few brands, TableTop works to offer a wide range of games from many manufacturers, Mehmedovic says. Its selection ranges from standard games to more intense, longer-play games. “Then there’s the whole world of miniatures and painting,” he adds. Miniatures are popular companion products for many games, such as Warhammer, and Mehmedovic is hoping to add an option for people to purchase and paint their own miniatures at the café. He is also hoping to add a cooperative gaming section to the café as well. Cooperative gaming focuses on players working together as teammates to defeat the game rather than playing against each other. Such games can be a great option for groups that might otherwise be too competitive, Mehmedovic notes. Currently, TableTop Gaming employs five people and offers evening hours on weekdays and afternoon and evening hours on the weekends. That will change in mid-October when the café celebrates the grand opening of its new location.