Tucked beneath a variety of delicious restaurant offerings, on the lower level of the Gibson Mill Market, there is a place where all imaginations are welcome.
In truth, this unassuming ground-level location is more than just a place; it’s magic—and it just so happens to be North Carolina’s largest board game café.
🎲 What is a board game café?
No matter your age, race, gender, religion, and everything in between, you are certain to find your fun at Luck Factory Games in Concord. This entertainment destination offers an expansive library of over 1,200 board games for you to play while you enjoy a tasty treat or beverage. All you have to do is purchase a $5 day pass and you’re free to play whatever you want until the store closes. Yes, that’s really it! Let’s talk about what makes this such an exceptional deal…
But there is so much more to Luck Factory Games than its obvious value. First and foremost, there are Nick and Alison.
👫 Nick and Alison Paladino are the husband-and-wife duo behind Luck Factory, and they’re easily the biggest reason why the café is such a success. Originally from Nebraska, where they fell in love with board game cafés, these Cabarrus County residents quickly discovered that nothing similar existed within a wide radius of their new home. They enjoyed visiting these cafés all over the country as they traveled, but they ultimately knew that the only way to fill the tabletop-sized hole in their hearts was to open their own. So, that’s exactly what they did.
Within just a few short years, the success of Luck Factory Games has proven the Paladino’s right. This was something the community desperately wanted, and Nick has a pretty good idea of why.
Who will you find at Luck Factory? There are young children guiding grandparents through the “Family” section of games and groups of diverse thirtysomethings enjoying beers around a gaming table. You’ll also find some puzzle fanatics who like a little friendly competition at the Puzzle Challenges that are offered every month!
Alison aptly compared it to Cheers, because she and Nick really do their best to learn everyone’s names. In that way, it feels a lot like home. However, unlike the reality of home, there is not a single electronic device on display.
Everyone there is present with each other and eager to connect. And many of them do that by connecting through one very popular event…
🐉 Besides their enormous board game library, Luck Factory’s biggest draw, garnering around 40 players each session, is Dungeons & Dragons. That’s right, the classic tabletop role-playing game that’s been around since the mid-1970s.
Seriously, “as soon as you have an interest, you can play,” according to Nick. That’s because Luck Factory plays D&D a little differently. Luck Factory’s weekly Dungeons & Dragons sessions are created entirely from the minds of local Dungeon Masters (DMs).
📅 Beginners welcome! Now, if you are super new to the entire D&D experience and feel a little intimidated by the idea of just jumping into the fray, your best bet is to show up on the first Wednesday of the month.
Truthfully, we could spend hours on end talking about the incredible, hands-on experience of playing Dungeons & Dragons at Luck Factory Games. There is so much to do and see within just an hour of visiting one of their weekly sessions.
Dungeons & Dragons is played every Wednesday night from 6-10pm and every Saturday from 1-4pm. You can RSVP via their Discord Link or by emailing Nick directly and he can share how to register.
Feel free to tell them that Cabarrus Weekly sent you and that you’re eager to learn more about at the board game café has to offer. In the meantime, head over to luckfactorygames.com and explore their game library, café menu, and private event options or follow them on Facebook or Instagram to stay in the loop. You will not regret becoming a part of this diverse, friendly community of gamers. We certainly don’t!
Planning to visit? Tell ’em Cabarrus Weekly sent ya!
41 Edgewood Ave NE
Concord, North Carolina 28025
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