Why we didn't make our board game cafe a subscription-only model

Opening a board game cafe, the obvious move is to charge a cover just to walk in the door — most do. We went the other way: pay-per-table, membership optional.

Here's the logic. A $15/mo membership isn't the barrier to trying us out — it's the reward for coming back. First-timers can walk in, grab a table, order a coffee, and play without committing to anything. If they like it (and they will), the membership pays for itself in two visits through priority booking and 15% off drinks/snacks.

The result: zero friction for new people, real perks for regulars. If you're building any kind of physical space business — gym, studio, cafe — ask whether your pricing model is filtering people out before they've even experienced the thing you built. Most of the time the answer is yes.

We're 300+ games deep and counting. If you're in the area, come roll something with us.

Roll for Coffee

Why we didn't make our board game cafe a subscription-only model