Let the Games Begin

“Hey, who’s the homeless guy?” I asked store owner Ashton Rutherford after seeing someone huddled in a lawn chair outside his new store, The Board Room, at 103 S. Wesley Avenue in Mt. Morris. The big, bearded man was wrapped in a blanket, in the cold and blowing snow, when the store was clearly open.

Rutherford laughed and explained that it was actually loyal customer and gamer James Wood, spoofing the store opening—an homage to fans who wait outside a store for a new product release.

In fact, The Board Room – Games, Crafts & Collectibles, was packed at 10:30 a.m. on January 10; filled with customers, friends, and Mt. Morris Village Board and Economic Development Corporation members who were there for the business’s grand opening and ribbon-cutting. Fans and friends of all ages mingled, shopped, and shared the excitement of a new place to play and purchase trading cards and tabletop games.

Rutherford calls it a re-opening at the refurbished storefront in Mt. Morris, a move from his former location in Oregon. Remaining in the Mt. Morris/Oregon area is important. “I grew up in Mt. Morris and Oregon. Went to school in Mt. Morris and Oregon. To me, it’s one community—both are my hometowns—and I want to give back by having my store here.”

Rutherford added that local players don’t have to travel, now, to find a store or play with others. He plans to host events for both serious competitors and casual players. “We are blessed by this (local gaming) community,” he said. “They are very welcoming to all players, experienced and new. That’s different from some places. I give all the credit to my player base.”

You can connect with The Board Room in person, at theboardroomgcc.com, and on Meta/Facebook.

Whether you’re a gamer or not, stop in The Board Room and welcome Rutherford to the Mt. Morris business community. And discover more about the Mt. Morris Economic Development Corporation and its success stories here.