Have you settled Catan? Have you traveled to Puerto Rico? Or are you more of a Monopoly master? Regardless of your familiarity (or lack thereof) with the world of board gaming, Kingmakers wants to welcome you to a brand new Short North hangout where fun can be had for players of all skill levels.

Located in the basement at 17 Buttles Avenue, Kingmakers Board Game Parlour offers a haven for gamers to gather for beer, brezels and a couple of rounds with any of the 200+ games from the collection off the shelves.

“We want to encourage gamers and non gamers alike to come and play a game together,” says General Manager Rebekah Sherman. “Whether you’re an expert gamer, a novice gamer, or just looking for a way to kill some time while waiting on a dinner reservation, our Board Game Sommeliers are trained to recommend and teach games based on your situation, party size, time available, and whether you’re in the mood for hardcore strategy, a party game, or something in between.”

A $5 ‘library fee’ allows guests to play as much as they want for the day. Kingmakers will feature eight beers on tap, four wines on tap, a selection of specialty soda pops, coffees and teas. The model for the business and inspiration for the concept comes from similar board game lounges that have been successful in other cities.

“I visited Snakes & Lattes in Toronto in the spring of 2012 — they have some 2,500 different titles in their library,” explains Kingmakers Founder Malika de Silva. “I’ve worked in restaurants, coffee shops and bars for many years and the concept of a board game cafe struck me as a unique driver — a way to create a social experience in addition to having a beer or latte.”

de Silva is a self-described newbie to the world of board gaming, which is why she brought in Sherman to help manage the business.

“Around 2008, a friend told me I absolutely had to play this game called Catan,” says Sherman. “He brought it over, we played it, and I was intrigued. The fun I had from playing it encouraged me to visit the local game group in Dayton that met weekly. There I played a game called Puerto Rico, after which I was hooked.”

Sherman began attending gaming conventions including GenCon, Archon, and Origins where she was able to start building a personal collection of games.

“I’ve been amazed at how far the gaming industry had come since I was younger,” she adds. “These games made me feel like I was part of something new and creative. I felt I was being challenged and educated at the same time as I was having fun and meeting new people.”

Kingmakers will host a opening preview this weekend — January 4th and 5th — which includes game demos and tours of the new space prior to their official opening for regular hours on Tuesday January 7th.

“We’re so excited to join the Short North neighborhood. It’s an honor to be a part of the tradition of arts, culture, fashion, food, and small business that has been so critical to making Columbus a great place,” says de Silva. “Kingmakers has been about a year and half in the making and it’s taken the efforts of people across many fields to bring this together and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

While the business is fully funded and ready to open, de Silva launched a Kickstarter campaign to help raise a few last-minute dollars that will increase the board game library after opening. The campaign has already successfully hit its goal, and still has 11 more days to go for anyone interested in helping to fund the new venture.

For more information, visit www.kingmakerscolumbus.com.