A pair of local entrepreneurs are hoping to bring table top adventure to another level in North Bay.
Outpost Gaming, located at 2690 Trout Lake Rd., is a new local retailer that sells all manner of tabletop games for a range of ages and tastes.
Anthony Campigotto and Joseph Nucara, the owners behind Outpost Gaming, transformed half their space into "The Polished Pickaxe," a room styled after a medieval tavern; it sports large tables, and a fun aesthetic, where players can play games and enjoy coffee, tea, or soft drinks.
The unique new business will allow visitors to play collectable card games like Magic, Pokémon or even Dungeons and Dragons.
The owners feel the real focal point, however, is creating a uniquely fun and friendly space for the community to gather and play the games they love.
Campigotto believes that having hobbies and playing games is essential to good mental health, and is a great way to connect socially without using computer screens.
"We know people can jump online to get any product they want, so we wanted to put an emphasis on giving customers an experience rather than a simple product," said co-owner Anthony Campigotto, a life-long North Bay resident and gamer.
Co-owner Joseph Nucara feels the same way.
"We want people to walk into Outpost Gaming and not want to leave. We want it to be a place where people want to hang out," said Joseph Nucara, who is also a life-long North Bay resident, gamer, and family man.
Nucara has two young children, and he is proud to create a space that they will be able to enjoy while making a positive impact on the city they live in.
He notes that Outpost Gaming will also provide demos for learning to play games as well as tutorials on painting and crafting.
Campigotto says they have received a lot of support from the local community already, but hopes to spread the word to more North Bay residents.
"People have had a hard few years, and only now are many getting back out into social spaces again," said Campigotto.
"We hope people will use us as one of those spaces to come in and forget about the rest of the world, even if for just a couple hours. We hope you will come and roll the dice on us".
Outpost Gaming opened its doors on October 2, but its grand opening will be this Saturday, October 15. You can find out more at outpostgaming.ca or check out the social media pages.
