These local gathering spots make it easy to meet new people and have some fun
By Katrina McLean | Photography by John Michael Simpson
Roll With It
Nicole Frascino and Jake Guild set out to create more than a retail game shop when they opened Guildhall Games downtown Aug. 1. The neurodivergent-, disability- and queer-focused community store grew from its much smaller operation – a 320-square-foot shipping container, to be exact – at Boxyard RTP to a 4,000-square-foot storefront at 204 Rigsbee Ave. The co-owners aimed to maximize the use of their upgraded capacity by providing a welcoming third place for their customers to access and play tabletop games.
At the heart of Guildhall’s mission is a simple concept: Games can make it easier to meet people. Tabletop matches give players something to focus on together, taking some of the pressure out of a first conversation. Before long, a casual game can turn into a new friendship that extends well beyond the store.
With a library of about 400 board games available to play for free, plus guidance from employees, newcomers can find a title suited to their interests and experience level. Guildhall also carries trading card games, including the newer CookieRun: Braverse TCG, which Jake says has become a popular alternative for players priced out of Pokémon’s increasingly expensive cards. (The store sells those, too, albeit in limited quantities.)
The new space features 10 large tables that can seat up to eight people, along with two private rooms that can double as sensory friendly rooms for anyone seeking a quieter environment, and comfortable chairs that encourage settling in for a long game. It’s also dog-friendly, with the owners’ dog, Tillie, frequently making an appearance.
Accessibility remains a priority – and Jake says the team regularly shares ideas and best practices with others in the board game industry to help make stores more inclusive. Guildhall itself intentionally maintains a low noise volume and uses LED lighting in place of fluorescent lighting to better accommodate individuals with disabilities, including those affected by migraines.
As Guildhall settles into its new home, the owners are building out a full event calendar, including Tuesday game nights and more miniature-painting events, where participants learn to paint the tiny figures used in tabletop and war games. It’s all in an effort to turn a shared interest into something bigger: a place where people can find their people.
Play Your Cards Right
Matt Everhart started collecting board games while working at a video game studio in 2013. The problem? He wasn’t actually playing them. “I thought to myself, ‘I could take them in public, get people to play them,’” he says, “then at least they would [get some use].”
Around the same time, Durham Geeks formed as a Meetup group for people interested in self-described “geeky” pursuits, from anime and video games to cartoons. When the group’s original organizers decided to disband, Matt and a few fellow members saw an opportunity to keep the local crowd going – while also putting Matt’s extensive game collection to work.
What began as the occasional game night has evolved into a full calendar of weekly events, becoming a “third space” for its many attendees. “Over the years, we’ve moved around to different venues,” Matt says. Today, the group hosts four board game nights a week: Mondays and Thursdays at Moon Dog Meadery at 7 p.m., Wednesdays at Boxyard RTP at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at The Can Opener from noon to 4 p.m.
The meetups draw a wide-ranging crowd, from folks looking to broaden their social circle, to newcomers simply searching for an opportunity to have some fun. “We got about 200 regulars who kind of cycle through, as well as a bunch of people who show up and they’re like, ‘Wow, I want to try this out,’” Matt says.
For Smythe Richbourg, who now hosts Thursday game nights, the group offered a sense of belonging after his divorce in 2021. He quickly found a circle of friends who made him feel at home. “They welcome you right in,” he says. “What this group is, is community.”
Local game designer and regular attendee David Marron has found the same sense of connection: “I’ve met so many people through this game night – I think it’s one of the best ways to meet people, actually,” he says. That’s the appeal: You don’t have to arrive knowing anyone. You just have to be willing to pull up a chair.
Matt says that approachability and inclusivity is key to the group’s success. “I like to say it’s like a low-stakes way of spending time with people,” he says. “We try to make sure that everyone feels comfortable enough to come back.”
Take the Plunge
High Dive was always meant to feel like an old-school neighborhood bar – a place where patrons can put away their mobile devices, pick a song on the jukebox, unwind over a drink and connect through classic games like pool, darts, foosball and pinball. “In a world where many bar patrons can be seen interacting primarily with their phones, we knew a space with interactive activities might help to mitigate that,” owner Daniel Sartain says.
The games are approachable for players of all skill levels, whether someone is a seasoned pinball wizard or picking up a pool cue for the first time. Daniel says darts have become one of the bar’s biggest hits, while the arcade console often flies under the radar despite housing thousands of games. “From Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, to NBA Jam and Pac-Man,” Daniel says, “… it has everything, and at high quality.”
Daniel sees these amenities as more than entertainment; they’re conversation starters – an easy excuse to turn a room full of strangers into potential opponents, teammates or friends. “Let’s say you’re hanging solo, or just with one friend,” Daniel says. “You see a group of people having fun at the shuffleboard table. Nothing really prevents you from going over, introducing yourselves and asking to join.”
Since opening, High Dive has cultivated a reputation as an approachable hangout with affordable drinks and a relaxed atmosphere. Daniel hopes to preserve that easygoing identity far into the future: “We look forward to being a laid-back, jeans and tees kind of option for a good while to come.”
Fast Friends
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games puts a high-speed spin on game night, giving visitors of all ages plenty of ways to compete, play and blow off some steam. The family-friendly entertainment destination offers laser tag, virtual reality, bowling, arcade games and, at the center of it all, go-kart racing. “It’s 100,000 square feet worth of fun,” says marketing specialist Jayvian Hicks.
The competition starts on the track, where four professionally designed courses give adults, teens and children as young as 3 years old a chance to race. The fully electric go-karts can reach speeds of up to 35 mph, adding a little adrenaline to the friendly rivalry. But Andretti’s appeal extends beyond who crosses the finish line first. Between races and games, guests can grab a drink or a bite to eat at the main bar, which features 20-foot-wide screens, or head upstairs to the sky bar overlooking the facility. Everywhere you turn, the emphasis is on one thing: having a good time together.
“I think everybody has that competitive spirit in them,” Jayvian says. “Excitement speaks to everyone, and that’s the environment we’re trying to create – one the whole family can enjoy.”
Axellent Company
Ax throwing might seem like an unlikely way to spend an evening with friends. But at Urban Axes Durham, what begins as a novelty can quickly turn into competition, camaraderie and a new social circle. “What keeps [customers coming back] is the community,” says owner Moira Girard, also known by her throwing name, “Mojo.”
For many first-time throwers, the biggest hurdle is simply getting the ax to stick. Owner Otto Hoering – or “Cool Beans” – says newcomers often assume they need to be particularly athletic or strong. In reality, “it’s really more about technique than it is about strength.” Once a first successful throw lands, skepticism gives way to excitement. That progression is part of what makes the activity so rewarding, Otto says. As a coach, “the most satisfying thing is seeing someone do something I suggested and then hit a bull’s-eye,” he says. The accomplishment becomes a shared celebration, turning what could be a solitary sport into a group experience.
For regulars, that enthusiasm can grow into something bigger. Moira says league members who initially came in to throw a few axes have gone on to create lasting connections. “They’ve built entire communities of friends, which is hard to do as an adult,” she says. Between league nights – which last between five or seven weeks – group events and casual throwing sessions, Urban Axes has become a place where folks stick around for the bonding as much as the bull’s-eyes.
The Talk
Caryn Rosenberg has played mahjong, the traditional tile-based game of strategy and luck that has experienced a recent surge in popularity, for more than 20 years. What began as a personal hobby for Caryn has grown into a thriving network of players across the Triangle. Caryn keeps players up to date on lessons, guided games and open-play events through a mailing list and her Instagram account, @getyourmahjongnc. “I’m just really enjoying meeting so many people in the community and getting to share my love of the game,” Caryn says.
Her business as a mahjong instructor took off about a year ago after she responded to a Facebook post from Casa Bella Market seeking a teacher for an event. Today, Caryn hosts beginner lessons and guided play events for a fee at Casa Bella on Sundays, Wine and Design on Mondays, and alternates Wednesday gatherings between downtown’s The Glass Jug Beer Lab and Guildhall Games. She also offers a free monthly openplay event for experienced players at Aloft Durham Downtown.
Those interested in learning the game can head to Dssolvr Durham, where Caryn provides lessons and guided games on the second Thursday of each month as well as free open play one Thursday a month. “It takes, I would say, anywhere from one to three lessons before you can start to play on your own,” Caryn says. “You’ll improve the more you play.”
The strategy keeps players’ minds engaged, but Caryn says the social side ultimately brings people back. “You’re just sitting around a table with a bunch of people chatting, laughing, learning and trying to master this challenging game,” she says.
Check It Out
At Durham County South Regional Library, games are becoming another way for young patrons to gather, learn and build social bonds. Tabletop Troupe, a weekly board and card gaming club for tweens and teens that meets on Mondays from 4 to 5:30 p.m., offers everything from familiar favorites such as Uno and Candy Land to strategy-heavy options including Root, Wingspan and Command of Nature.
South Regional Children’s Library Associate Amaris Torres-Hedges launched Tabletop Troupe last year after receiving a grant from the Friends of the Durham Library to purchase games and supplies. Since then, dozens of patrons have gathered to learn new games, teach one another and return to old favorites.
Gaming is a natural extension of the library’s role as a community space. “Anyone from the area can come in and meet people,” Amaris says. “They’re also spaces to share, learn and explore new ideas. Games are a great way to facilitate all of the above, so it just makes sense to have them around.”
The benefits extend beyond the fun. As patrons play, they’re also practicing literacy, communication, cooperation and decision-making skills – often without realizing it. And as a growing number of new board and card games hit the market, the library can offer access to titles that might otherwise be out of reach. “Libraries have always been an equalizer, where we allow those who can’t buy every new book that comes out to still have a chance to read,” Amaris says. “We should be able to do the same with games.”
The more complex games tend to be especially popular. Root and Wingspan, with their layers of nuance and strategy, can take hours to finish – yet patrons keep coming back for another round. “Making your own decisions feels good at that age, especially when you feel like you’re not in charge of much,” Amaris says.
The program brings families together, too. Parents who participate often find themselves learning from their children, who enjoy teaching adults the rules and strategies. “It’s really cool getting to see parents learn more about their kids,” Amaris says. “Parents gain a lot of insight into what type of player their child is. Are they competitive? Are they a helper?”
Next up, the library hopes to expand to tabletop role-playing games. It has already purchased several TTRPG titles and is looking for interested players – beginners and experienced game masters alike – to help get a campaign off the ground. (Email amaristorres@dconc.gov to collaborate!)
As Tabletop Troupe continues to expand its collection – “Our next card game additions are likely to be the Pokémon TCG and possibly Yu-Gi-Oh!,” Amaris says. “I’d like to not spoil our new board game ideas, so you’ll just have to come and see!” – the library is giving patrons one more reason to gather around the table – and proving that sometimes, the easiest way to find your next friend is to ask, “Want to play?”
