‘Neighborhood hub’: Cards and Coasters gaming its option to enlargement in downtown Orillia

Three-and-a-half years after opening Cards and Coasters in downtown Orillia, Darren Milner and his spouse, Jessica, say the enterprise has grown far past the modest imaginative and prescient they began with.

“When we started, my wife and I thought we could run it with just two people,” he mentioned. “It was going to be like a strictly mom-and-pop shop.”

That plan shortly modified because the store discovered its footing locally.

“We’ve grown to have a total of nine employees,” Milner mentioned.

Cards and Coasters blends a number of ideas beneath one roof. The enterprise at 58 Mississaga St. E. serves as a pastime store, a café and an occasion house the place clients should purchase buying and selling playing cards, play board video games and revel in snacks and themed drinks.

“You can come in here, grab a pack of Pokémon cards, grab a snack, drink a milkshake all at the same time,” he mentioned.

The couple just lately expanded their house inside the constructing, including a kitchen and extra room to host bigger occasions.

“We have a lot more space to host events, do karaokes and host better trivia,” he mentioned. “We can host up to 100 people at a time, more board games, more retail — basically, more of everything.”

Another enlargement is already underway. Milner mentioned they’ve signed a lease for the decrease degree.

“We’re adding another 1,100 square feet for additional retail,” he mentioned.

The new space, anticipated to open round June or July, will focus totally on retail.

“It’ll be customer accessible. It just will be retail only, so there won’t be seated service,” he mentioned. “Maybe some takeout coffee.”

The choice to broaden was pushed by the store’s speedy progress.

“We ran out of storage,” Milner mentioned. “I needed more storage to move boxes out of every room, and we only carry about a third of what our distributors offer. So, we’re adding more space to bring on more of what our industry already sells.”

Both Milner and his spouse are turning 38 this 12 months. Before opening the enterprise, she labored as a retail supervisor at Things Engraved, whereas he labored in cellphone gross sales for Telus. After each misplaced their jobs to layoffs, they determined to take a danger and pursue one thing they have been enthusiastic about.

“The first step is to just try,” he mentioned. “Definitely, make a solid plan and kind of jump in the deep end, in my opinion. This never would have worked if we took it half-heartedly.”

Inside the store, cabinets are full of buying and selling playing cards, collectibles and board video games that enchantment to each kids and adults. Milner mentioned nostalgia performs a serious position within the enterprise.

“We’re really in the business of selling nostalgia here,” he mentioned. “We want to get people in to relive a slice of their childhood. That’s for sure.”

The café menu focuses on shareable meals that may be loved whereas taking part in video games.

“It’s mostly snacky stuff,” he mentioned, “things like pizza, nachos and finger food — things that you would want to share and eat while playing a game.”

The enterprise has additionally turn out to be recognized for its milkshakes made with Kawartha Dairy ice cream, together with vibrant floats and themed drinks. Each month, Cards and Coasters adopts a brand new theme that influences its drink menu and decor.

“March is Mario month,” he mentioned. “Last month was Friends month. Every month of the year, we pick something different and we theme all the drinks to it.”

He credited his spouse for driving a lot of that creativity.

“Jessica is a wizard when it comes to this stuff,” he mentioned. “She’s always coming up with something clever that relates to the theme of the month and the theme of the events that we’re hosting.”

Beyond video games and meals, Milner mentioned the enterprise has turn out to be a spot for connection.

“This has become like a community hub,” he mentioned, “a space where people come and gather with their friends and make new ones.”

Cards and Coasters may be discovered on Facebook, Instagram and its website.