The goal was to make it feel like game night in your own living room.
As the owners of Gamers Cave in Franklin pieced their vision for a game-centric business together, they aimed for a welcoming feel. They wanted people to feel comfortable stopping in to play a few rounds of their favorite games, even if they didn’t buy anything. Snacks and refreshments would be available. Like-minded people could congregate, and new friendships could form.
Basically, they wanted nerds to feel at home.
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“We’re here, we’re hanging out. It’s a family atmosphere, be-yourself kind of place,” said Melia Banta, one of the co-owners of Gamers Cave. “If it’s nerdy or geeky, we try to have it.”
In Gamers Cave, local fans of fantasy, role-playing, board games and everything else quirky and offbeat have a place of their own. The new business in downtown Franklin is rife with all of the popular names — Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic the Gathering, Star Wars, Harry Potter. Selections range across all genres and styles, catering to all different kinds of fans.
Opening two weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic essentially shut the state down has been a challenge, the owners say. But even from a distance, they’ve felt the support and love from the community, which has helped them thrive.
“We only survived through the grace of our customers. This town willed this shop to be here. They wanted a game store, and came out to buy things whether we were opened up or not,” said Kevin Adams, one of the co-owners.
At long tables inside Gamers Cave, players settled into their games. Boards, cards and pieces were spread out on the surfaces as people huddled around them, intently strategizing and plotting their next moves. Others were hanging around to watch, waiting their turn to get into the next round.
Flags of the four houses of Hogwarts ruffled over their heads. Shelves and shelves of games were filled all around them; some of the games were new and ready to purchase, others were available to play through the store’s library.
From an upstairs loft known as the Watchtower, other players set up a massive round of “Star Wars X-Wing,” while watching the action at other tables form above.
“The best thing about tabletop gaming is the fact that it really gives you an opportunity to not just spend quality time with each other but there’s an entertainment value that appeals to people who might not only be up for sitting around and talking,” Brandon Banta said. “It opens up avenues to let you meet new people, where you wouldn’t have that opportunity doing something else.”
Gamers Cave welcomed the public back into the shop in early May as part of the statewide re-opening plan. For much of the pandemic shutdown, they had been selling games online and doing more virtual interaction with customers.
But people were clamoring for the brick-and-mortar location to open its doors again, Melia Banta said.
“It’s humbling. There are lots of people who have reached out, because they want to us to stay around. It’s been amazing that everyone wants us here,” she said.
Gamers Cave was born from a compromise between co-owners Brandon and Melia Banta of Franklin. They wanted to open a business together, but what kind? Brandon Banta loves to cook and was focused on an eatery of some kind, while Melia Banta was interested in a yarn store. Those two visions were too far apart to compromise.
But they both loved gaming, they thought. And a gaming business is one thing that downtown Franklin was missing. They enlisted their good friend Adams, who was also a gaming aficionado.
“We used to have to drive for a half-hour anywhere to get to a game store. We felt this would be a place where we could game, hang out with our friends and make new friends,” Adams said. “Franklin desperately needed someplace where people would care, where we could all be friends and play.”
Over the course of five years, they did market analysis and research to put together a business plan. Finally, in early March, they opened their doors to the gaming community.
Two weeks later, the coronavirus shut everything down.
“As much as we didn’t like it, when COVID hit, it forced us to really slow down, learn about how to work invoices and online sales. So it was a small blessing, but also a giant curse,” Adams said.
Using Facebook and its live features, they were able to connect with customers who were yearning to play or needed something to do while stay-at-home orders were in place. New merchandise and popular favorites could be purchased online, then picked up curbside.
Once retail stores were able to open back up, they transferred that momentum to the physical store.
Tables and the game library give people a place to sit and congregate. The format encourages people to socialize over their favorite games, even if they’ve never met before. One of Adams’ favorite things about the business is seeing people who were complete strangers upon sitting down seem like old buddies by the time they leave.
In keeping with the cozy theme, the owners have stocked salty and sweet snacks, as well as beverages to purchase.
A collection of laminated menus from local restaurants allow people to order carryout and bring it in to play.
“That way, we can support the other local businesses as well,” Adams said. “This community has given so much to us, we made sure we’ve told our customers all about the other places down here, to spread that love around.”
The Watchtower is a more private space with larger tables and more chairs, which can be rented out for players. If no one has rented it, though, people are free to play there, Adams said.
As business opens up, the Gamers Cave crew plans on welcoming more into their enclave. They are working on refurbishing a lower level they call the Dungeon, to offer more game space.
In the meantime, they’ll be available to welcome anyone into their home away from home.
“We want to attract fellow geeks and have stuff that’s cool, hang out, share stories and share a game,” Adams said.
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Gamers Cave
What: A game-focused shop offering new games, a library where people can try games out, as well as tables and spaces to play.
Where: 85 E. Jefferson St., Franklin
Owners: Brandon and Melia Banta, and Kevin Adams
Hours: 3 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Information: Gamers Cave LLC on Facebook
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