Oct. 4, 2019

The owners of Game Chest are busy today setting up their new downtown space, which opens Saturday.

“We’re really excited because it’s going to be what we want it to be,” said Amanda Wermers, who owns the gaming business with her husband, Ben. “I know we have a few more months to kind of get our minds wrapped around the remodels and the stuff that we want to do for it, so we’re just going to really enjoy it as it is for now and make it through the holiday season.”

Game Chest has been growing into larger spaces since it opened two years ago. The new location at 409 S. Second Ave. is almost three times larger than its previous home in the Jones421 Building on North Phillips Avenue.

“It’s quite a bit bigger, and it offers us opportunities for private gaming areas and tournament space and regular gaming space. The front room will be a party room you can rent for birthday parties and that kind of thing.”

That’s in addition to the retail space where customers can buy or rent board games.

The private gaming rooms can be rented in blocks of time through Game Chest’s new website, sfgamechest.com.

Customers can bring in their own food and beverages, and the business also sells snacks and drinks. The Wermers are working to get a beer license.

Game Chest is keeping its same hours: 3 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

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