New Orleans-themed gaming and crafting café opens on Main Street in Medina

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 25 January 2026 at 10:05 am

MEDINA – A dad or mum searching for one thing to occupy the youngsters on a day without work from college, an grownup searching for one thing completely different to do in Medina or a consumer eager to get in out of the chilly and luxuriate in a cup of selfmade scorching chocolate want look no additional.

 Nola’s Gaming & Crafting Cafe has the reply.

Located at 525 Main St., Nola’s is a Gaming & Crafting Café, the place all ages can sip, play and create by paying a nominal price for a set period of time. It is the brainchild of Steven and Jennifer Sones of Millville, who stated they bought the concept as a result of they each like to play video games. The identify “Nola” is an acronym of New Orleans, La.

Steven, a local of New Orleans, has had varied jobs in administration all through his life, whereas Jennifer does auditing of Early Intervention in New York state. They met whereas each have been dwelling in Florida, and moved again close to Jennifer’s dwelling city of Lockport, the place they married and raised their 5 youngsters. They finally determined to maneuver to Orleans County and located a home in Millville.

The resolution to enter enterprise got here because of wanting one thing to do of their spare time, their love of video games and Jennifer’s curiosity in crafts.

“Medina has bars, restaurants, beauty salons, specialty shops and antique shops, but nothing for people to do for entertainment,” Steven stated.

After trying to find house in Brockport, Albion, Medina, Middleport and Lockport, they found the shop previously occupied by Into the Enigma at 525 Main St., Medina.

“We really wanted to be in Medina,” Steven stated. “We love Medina.”

Cindy Robinson, who owns the English Rose Tea Shoppe a couple of doorways away, satisfied them they need to be open in time for the Parade of Lights, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. They have since deliberate a grand opening on Monday, with particular occasions deliberate all week. There can be paper mache Mardi Gras masks crafts, gaming specials and a princess get together, with treats reminiscent of beignets and King Cake, each New Orleans favorites, particularly at Mardi Gras.

“We are geared toward family days every day,” Jennifer stated. “We will be hosting weekly family events on Saturdays.”

Regular hours are 10 a.m. to eight p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and on Sunday for particular occasions.  This week on Monday Nola’s will start their week-long grand opening with hours from 10 a.m. to eight p.m.

Going ahead Monday can be reserved for Magic Monday occasions. This Wednesday will characteristic a Dungeons and Dragons character construct for the D&D marketing campaign scheduled on the primary and third Sundays. They will host a weekly Date Night on Saturdays with occasions geared strictly for adults.

Steven stated their enterprise is a superb expertise for home-schooled youngsters.

Nola’s Gaming & Crafting has one of many largest libraries of video games for all ages in Western New York, Steven stated.

Some of the crafts featured are macrame, beaded jewellery, candle pouring, crocheting, air drying clay and imaginative and prescient board (collage) workshops.

A well-liked characteristic of the shop are the New Orleans-themed beignets (pronounced ben-yea), king muffins and Snowballs, together with selfmade scorching chocolate or his particular espresso with chicory.

Steven has been promoting his snowballs at native occasions, together with the Canal Village Farmer’s Market in summer season and the Orleans County 4-H Fair, the place they’ve been a giant hit, particularly with youngsters.

Beignets are pillowy-soft, deep-fried items of dough, historically topped with a heavy coating of powdered sugar. Originating from France, they’re famously generally known as the official state doughnut of Louisiana, the place they have been launched by French settlers and have become a staple of New Orleans, significantly on the iconic Café Du Monde.

King muffins are a convention served primarily from Jan. 6, or the Epiphany, till Mardi Gras. The muffins are often comprised of a wealthy brioche-like dough twisted into a hoop and crammed with elements like cinnamon, cream cheese or pecans. It is quite common to discover a small plastic child figurine hidden inside a hoop of king cake. While there are numerous beliefs, some say that the figurine represents the Baby Jesus. The historical past and figurine are taped to the within of every field for the purchasers to make use of as they see match, Jennifer stated.

He makes his king muffins with cinnamon or cream cheese and raspberry. In addition to promoting the muffins by the slice, he additionally takes orders for entire muffins. Orders will be positioned throughout carnival season on social media or by calling (585) 318-4001. Beignets could also be ordered at any time.

 “We want Nola’s to become a community hub,” Steven stated.