Mana Games Opens First Board Game Cafe Downtown
Where Indigo Bridge once stood, Mana Games has made their home. With over 800 games to choose from, this is a perfect addition to Downtown Lincoln. Mana Games opened its doors on January 8 as a result of life-long friends coming together in 2018 with a goal in mind. With Alma Cerretta’s decade of experience managing coffee shops and Sam Volkmer’s master’s degree in business, Mana Games was born.
The pair ran weekly gaming events at Cosmic Eye Brewing for about four years. While hosting these events, Cerretta and Volkmer tried different gaming styles including RPGs (Role Playing Games), video games, and table top events. Then they also got involved with the Great Plains Gaming Festival, where they met a lot of people. It became really clear that this community needed a space to come together and hang out. So they decided to look at spaces to grow their own business in February 2020. As they started looking for places to rent out, the world began its COVID dormancy.
“When COVID hit, we put launching on hold until we felt it was safe. It was also very important to us that we found the perfect space,” Cerretta said. “During the meantime, we hosted virtual events and a lot of live streaming to connect with the community. When the vaccine came out and it started feeling more safe, we found the perfect spot. I wouldn’t have planned this space any differently.”
Mana Games decided to keep some of the interior designs of Indigo Bridge, including a sign about respecting each other’s pronouns. This is consistent with Cerretta and Volkmer’s number one goal for the business: inclusivity. This is why they cater to all gamers, new and old.
“We have a section for a lower age point, like 4-6 year olds,” Cerretta said. “Older people can come in and bring their children. We also have a vintage and classic section, that’s where you’ll find Scrabble and Sorry. Sam is particularly into finding vintage games. If you think of a game that Mana Games does not have, you can write down a suggestion and we will look into getting it.”
Mana Games is always looking for donations to expand their library. About half of their current collection is from an investor who had this amazing assortment of games and wanted this new business to be successful.
The game library isn’t the only thing Mana Games has to offer; there is a selection of coffee drinks and quick food. Mana Games serves breakfast foods like bagels, oatmeal, and yogurt. In the evenings, they serve personal pizzas, pretzels, chips, and other pub-like food. They plan to roll out soups and hot sandwiches in the future.
Mana Games is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends. Day game pass pricing starts at $5 daily and starts at $15 for a monthly membership. A day pass includes unlimited game play and a monthly pass gives access to special events and 10% in-store purchases.