Cambridge residents will soon be able to play both games and guitars at a Preston business.
"They're both hobbies that we're involved in," said Jeffrey Butler, co-owner of Cards and Chords on King Street East. "I've played in bands with my brother-in-law and in this area (Preston), right now, there's nowhere to get guitar strings.
"For board games, in particular for a lot of the ones we're selling, you have to go to Waterloo or order online," he said. "We thought we could both together and have a nice little hobby shop."
The business, which is currently operating online, hopes to welcome customers once the province allows businesses to reopen.
The idea, Jeffrey said, is to "have tables in here so if people want to come in and try a game before they buy it. It will be a nice spot for families to come together in the area."
And while people play games, said Nancy Butler, his wife and business co-owner, they will be able to have a coffee and some light snacks.
The other half of the store, she said, will have guitars and guitar accessories, and her brother, Neil Austin, who is the third business partner, will also give music lessons.
"He really is going to promote the music aspect where our passion is the board games," said Nancy, adding she and Jeffrey already play board games with their three kids, who are young adults. " We have family board game nights. It's really brought our family together a whole lot."
Starting a business during the pandemic hasn't been all that bad, said Jeffrey.
"The timing is not bad with the reopening; we can afford to wait and get it done the way we want to get it done," he said. "They keep telling us that there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel and we want to be a part of that light, as corny as that sounds."
So far, Jeffrey said, they've been engaging people using social media and gathering feedback from those that stroll downtown Preston.
"People walk by everyday and tell us this is fantastic," he said, adding he's heard from people that if the business is able to evolve into a cafe, it would help make up for the loss of a local coffee shop and a Tim Hortons down the road.
Currently, Jeffrey said, he's working on increasing their inventory as well as selling online.
"We have classic games like Connect Four, Operation, and Monopoly and we have the newer stuff like Wingspan," he said.
It's a place for all ages, Jeffrey said, even seniors that play cards will be able to come down and have a coffee and play euchre and cribbage or try something else.
