After six years in business, board game venue Kingmakers is closing their doors. Founder Malika Jacobs posted on social media yesterday that they had reached a decision to close both their original Short North location as well as a second location that launched in Indianapolis in 2017.
“At the time of the pandemic shutdown, we questioned the core of what Kingmakers is and how we do business,” she stated. “Taking years of experience from the Parlours, we quickly pivoted to offer contactless services: Virtual Team Bonding, Kingmakers Kits, and Play Consults, among others. These allowed us to continue doing what we do best: facilitate high-quality play experiences centered on board games.”
Jacobs had plans to eventually reopen their locations, but the ongoing severity of the pandemic has made it impossible to do that safely while keeping their environment sterile.
“More recently, we have taken to heart the calls for individuals and businesses to actively dismantle the systemic racism that threatens the health, safety, and prosperity of Black people,” added Jacobs. “For our team, this has meant pausing, reflecting, and beginning to think more critically about what it means to be a small business, a largely women-led team, tenants of two gentrified districts, and stakeholders in the larger board game ecosystem. We know that all these identities hold power and demand more engagement and action than we have given them.”
Jacobs is inviting their friends, fans and customers to take part in a discussion via Facebook Live on Thursday, June 25th.
“We will discuss these challenging decisions more in depth, share some of the ideas we have for board games in many different spaces and settings, and invite your questions, insights, and support,” she stated. “We are so excited for this next chapter, and for all of us to work together to truly cultivate a community of play.”
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/kingmakersfun/.