BIG ANNOUNCEMENT - NEW LOCATION
This is The Retro Room as it was at the beginning of this year. I loved everything that this space had become and appreciated that every day was a surprise. I never knew who would pop in or what games would pass through the door (whether in or out).
As most of you know I was pushed to leave this location unexpectedly in February and decided to focus my attention on growing the RR online while I searched for a new spot. The online world is okay, mostly passive sales and lots of packing (something I surprisingly excel in) but overall, a solely online business is simply not for me. Without the in-person interactions and interesting conversations, I’ve been feeling less than enthusiastic about the business. After two years, it was confirmation to me that this is not the vision I have for the Retro Room.
Now this next part is bittersweet, as one of my friends put it. I have some great news for the shop, but not necessarily great news for everyone. I have found a new location and have already signed a lease for the next 2 years. It’s a little bit bigger than my old space and I know that with a little magic, elbow grease, power tools and love it will be the perfect level up over the original Retro Room.
The sad news for my local customers is that the location is in Carleton Place, Ontario (approximately 2h away). As with any big decision the pros and cons were carefully measured and I believe this is the best direction not just for the shop, but for our family as well.
I’m excited to have a brick and mortar shop again and there are so many benefits to this new place! The first and most important is that unlike my other space it’s at street level with clear visibility, front facing windows to let natural light in and my own front door. Even with my sandwich board I know many of you got lost while looking for the shop for the first time. I had many phone calls from confused clients that were standing mere feet away from the main door. I think the Hair salon confused many.
The new place has its quirks but I know I can use my creativity to make good use of the space and present a proper non-dungeonous game room. This beautiful town is quickly growing with shops opening bright and early (coffee shops at 7 AM!) so there’s plenty to do here if you’re open to making the drive out for a visit.
We’re aiming to open the shop on August 1 so I’ll have about 10-15 days to mad dash any fixtures, builds and set up from the time we get our keys mid July. I may have to shut the online shop down for a week or so to re-inventorize and work on the organization of the shop to create the most pleasant and relaxed experience as possible.
I’ll reveal more after we officially have the space and bring you along on the renovation journey. It’ll just be me, my wife and kids setting things up so wish us luck and strength as we embark on this epic journey!
Oh, lastly here's a photo of the new spot!
