Board game fanatics rejoice.
Milkshake connoisseurs rise up as one.
In just a couple weeks time, Penticton will be home to a venue that seamlessly blends the best of both worlds. And great food and conversation too.
Called "Meeples and Milkshakes," it'll be Penticton's first-ever board game café - a place where you can grab a meal, sip on a custom-made shake, or just dive into a candy bowl and play your favourite board games for hours on end.
And yes, to those who haven't been keeping track, board games are mega hot and board game cafés are a big deal. According to Meeples' co-owner Jim Roepcke, board game cafés have already infiltrated places like Vernon, Kelowna, and even Grand Forks.
And that leaves but one question: What the heck is a "meeple?"
Turns out it's essentially a stylized playing piece with human attributes. Now you know.
When Meeples and Milkshakes opens in mid-September, it will do so in the former abode of longtime downtown Greek food eatery, Spiro's Cubby Hole. And it's not like the ownership changeover happened yesterday.
"We signed the lease March 12th," said Roepcke, who's also a software designer. "An hour after we signed, the NBA announced the suspension of their season (due to the emerging pandemic). We took possession April 10th, and by that point, all the restaurants were shut down."
PentictonNow caught up with Roepcke and his co-owner (and wife) Cheryl last weekend, as they entered the final stages of renovation.
"There's new paint all around," said Roepcke, "and new lighting and new floors through the entire building. And we totally gutted the kitchen. Completely brand new floor, walls, and ceilings. All the surfaces are wipeable. Almost all the fixtures are brand new, and all the equipment is as well."
But Jim and Cheryl's obsession with board games isn't new. "We started playing over a decade ago," said Roepcke. "Then we found out about board game cafés in the early 2010s, and were smitten with the idea."
A video game addict back in the day, Roepcke found online communities unfriendly. "People can be rude, and there's no repercussion. But when you're across the table from someone, you’re civil."
When they moved from Victoria to Penticton in 2013, the Roepckes started a local board game group through Meetup.com. The reception proved strong enough to convince them a board game café would be a hit.
COVID-19 clearly put a kink in their plans, but it's not like Meeples has been in limbo since the shutdown. Part of the plan was to sell games over the Internet, and that's precisely what they've been doing at their impressively stocked online store.
"We have, and I'm not exaggerating, the best prices on boards games in western Canada," said Roepcke confidently.
But the opening of the café is a whole different ballgame. Er...board game.
"It's seven bucks per person to play the games," said Roepcke. "and you can stay as long as you want."
Gaming munchies include chips, homemade popcorn, and candy bowls. If you’re hungrier, you can grab sandwiches (from grilled cheese to chicken, says Roepcke), salads (including one laughably dubbed "The Glory Bowl"), and in-house created baked goods.
But it's the shakes that really get Roepcke going. He's been a hardcore milkshake-ologist for years, and at Meeples, they'll be crafted from real ingredients and with the assistance of a three-quarter horsepower commercial drink mixer.
The "Cookies and Cream" shake will feature real cookies, blended when the item is ordered. There's a "Peach Melba" that Roepcke says he's perfected over time. And when they secure a liquor license sometime in the near future, "boozy milkshakes" will also be in the cards.
On opening, there'll be eight tables in the main room and another two on the outdoor patio. That number may well increase once the pandemic has ended.
"We've put in a number of COVID measures," says Roepcke, "including $4,000 worth of Plexiglas dividers between tables, and an 'HRV' ventilation system that pumps fresh air throughout the space."
Additionally, games will be quarantined between plays, all staff will wear masks, and there'll be hand sanitizer on all tables. Patrons will be asked to wash their hands before playing, and also to wear masks.
"We're doing everything possible to ensure this is a safe place to eat and play," he says.
You'll find Meeples and Milkshakes at 130 Westminster Ave. West, in the heart of what's recently grown into the city's premier dining and entertainment district. Hours are expected to be 11:30 am to 9:30 pm weekdays, 11:30 am to 10:30 pm Friday and Saturday, and 11:30 to 8:30 Sunday. They'll be closed Mondays.
For more information as opening day, currently targeted for September 12th to 15th, moves closer, hit up the website.
