There is a place I’ve found in New Carlisle where electronic games are also not cool. It is a place where the latest board games and new card games rule, New Carlisle Toys & Games at 104 W. Washington St.
Owned by Rachel and Craig Engle, this store has been here since October of 2012. And like the name indicates, the store has two sides.
“The toy side has traditional core toys, nothing electronic, wooden toys, puzzles, blocks and stuffed toys,” said Craig Engle. They carry Gund brand stuffed animals and “Melissa & Doug” wooden toys.
The other side of the store is dedicated to games and full of tables surrounded by chairs.
For the most part, we are not talking about the old favorite board games of my childhood. No. The main game played is a new twist on card collection and strategy games called Magic: The Gathering.
Now I’m “old school” and I find it difficult to even explain what this game is, but suffice it to say it’s very complicated and always changing. Players collect their own specially designed decks and bring their deck to the store to play. Some cards are available for purchase in the store.
The Friday Night Magic event generally has as many as 12 to 20 players.
“We have a fair amount of locals and people come regularly from Springfield and Sidney,” said Craig Engle.
The store officially closes at 7 p.m. but sometimes games continue past midnight. Players find the location of the games on the Internet. There are also spots to play in Springfield and Yellow Springs. There is a $5 playing fee that goes toward prizes.
Miniatures are the focus of play on Saturdays. On Sunday afternoons, the role-playing games take over. Each game has a different bunch of players. The store has some sodas or light snacks available but some players prefer to order out.
“Pizza places around here love us, and we send a lot of business to Penny Lane (Art Gallery and) Coffee House, our neighbor,” said Craig Engle.
At unreserved times from Tuesday through Sunday from 1-7 p.m., the tables are open for whatever board or card game the group brings in.
During the Saturday Farmers’ Markets, there is a kids’ play area on the sidewalk in front of New Carlisle Toys & Games. Maggie Bollar, from the New Carlisle Public Library, and Rachel Engle have games and activities set up for free fun. It is also a great time to just walk in and check out the store.
I really love it that there is something new and interesting going on for young folks in town. It is one more reason for them not to be bored.
I just hope they are ready when I show up with my Monopoly game.
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