WAYNESBORO – Three local men are “trying to get people back to the table” as the launching of their new business fulfills a lifelong dream.
“We want to return to having physical and social interactions with each other to counteract the damage the COVID 19 pandemic did,” added Brandon Kesner of Waynesboro, who opened a collaborative tabletop game store in Waynesboro Nov. 15 along with Tomas Carabajal of Chambersburg and Jacob Morse of Shippensburg. The Lich’s Lair is located at 119 Walnut St. across from the Boro Plaza. “A lot of shops like this had to close and had to do online virtual sessions,” Kesner said.
The store name was chosen because Lich stands for an undead spell caster in the gaming world, “and every single game we have in here is some representation of that,” according to Kesner, who along with Carbajal, are counselors at Children’s Aid Society of Franklin County. Morse works at Ryder distribution center in Hagerstown.
The store buys and sells a number of trading cards, such as Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, One Piece, Lorcana and Flesh & Blood. “We also offer a range of tabletop games, including Warhammer and Dungeons and Dragons. We even have a volunteer dungeon master who comes in and shows people to play,” added Morse.
“We offer more than just trading cards and board games,” Carabajal said. “This is a hub for creativity, learning and community. We’re trying to provide a safe and welcoming space for youth and families and offer organized events and tournaments, and provide an opportunity for young people to develop social skills. We teach them fair play and try to instill confidence in a fun, safe and structured environment … a place for them to hang out and engage their minds.”
“It’s paramount to hobby spaces’ successful patrons being able to engage with like minded individuals and share experiences,” Morse said. “What we sell is more than products. It’s the experience … not just a retail space but a community space. We (the owners) have all in one way or another grown up in this environment. I’ve been playing Magic the Gathering since I was in middle school in 2004 and honestly, all of my weekends were in spaces like ours. I have lifelong friends because of these games, and that’s the kind of experience we’re bringing to the community of Waynesboro.”
“The grand opening was very successful,” noted Kesner. “We had a lot of traffic within the first hour, and sales were very successful. Bill Kohler (director of economic development for Mainstreet Waynesboro Inc.) came down and interviewed us, and after that our social media was blown out of the water.”
“Our patrons’ reaction was that we’ve created a very welcoming and friendly environment that is properly managed and well run,” Morse added. “They all agreed we offered fair prices for not only selling, but buying to fill our inventory. We are always open to engagement and conversation and because of that, we will answer any and all questions to find a game that suits your personality and needs.”
“Every visit to our store is a chance for them to challenge their mind, make new friends, and celebrate the joy of gaming, where fun meets growth and every player matters,” Carabajal said.
Hours at The Lich’s Lair, which also features a concession corner, are 2 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
