I’ve been looking at leasing a space for a potential business idea, but I wanted to see what others thought of it. What I’m thinking about is immersive play spaces. A tavern setup that looks like something out of a D&D game, or maybe a spaceport bar for those into SciFi games. Even thinking about a possible Cyberpunk styled bar. The idea is that they would be member driven with guest passes, and alcohol would be supply your own. What I’m asking is if one of these spaces was in your area, would you pay a nominal monthly fee? I’m thinking between $25 to $50 a month with five guest passes.
While game bars are a thing, a few thing to remember
There isn’t that much money in the rpg scene. Sure the broke kids from the 80/90/00’s are now adult with disposable income, but some have space in their living room or are used to play in the municipal culture centre that the local club rent. When you start asking to pay a large amount of money you loose many prospective players.
Regarding alcohol, it’s how non profit club pay their expense. Bring you own alcohol feel like tho worst of both world, you’re a place dealing with alcohol consumption (law and potential drunk people) and you don’t get to sell a high margin product. As you use US$ you may have some other legal issues, but that’s a point where you need legal advise.
I am not sure of the interest of a fixed immersive game space. If I want more immersion, I go larping. Also there is 90%chance that the decor doesn’t match the game/campaign I play. Even generic heroic fantasy can come with multiple ambiance
Note also that it feels like the kind of place which don’t last long. They open, struggle for 2 years then the owner call it a loss and move out. Rent are expensive, bar have (and even alcohol free one) have to deal with a lot of regulation (fire safety, noise are obviously coming here. Even at my local rpg club, noise complaints are a big problem), and an immersive room for 4-5 person that will use it for the whole night takes more space than regular bar table, where patron order every 30-60minutes
You make some valid points. Especially the lack of money in the rpg scene. The hope was more than just RPGs, but other table-top style games, and have a lounge setting with multiple tables members can reserve. And the BYOB was a hope I wouldn’t have to deal with liquor licenses and still have an adult member base. I will admit that I will need more research, especially market research, before considering launching something like this.