The Grubby Gamer, located in Room 241 of the TAWC bus building at 42 Clark Street, is the creation of longtime board game enthusiast Steph Pearce, who saw an opportunity to bring her personal passion to the wider community.

“I’ve always wanted to do something for Warren, and board games are what I know best,” Pearce said. “I ran a weekly game night at my home for years – closer to decades. Then I shifted to a once-a-month community game night. That was a lot of fun, but the location had a few issues. I’ve been looking for a better place for a couple years now. When I saw the room for rent at the TAWC building, it looked perfect.”

Pearce, who works as a cleaner by day, said the name “The Grubby Gamer” was a playful nod to her day job.

“My family thought it was funny since most of my time is spent making things less grubby,” she joked. “We also thought it would be a nice play on words if we decide to add more food offerings later. Right now, it’s just snacks and some of the best sodas around. My family highly recommends Wild Bill’s ‘Rocket Pop.'”

Pictured are some of the game options at the Grubby Gamer.

The Grubby Gamer boasts an impressive collection of games, all curated from Pearce’s personal collection that she built over many years. Visitors will find everything from well-loved classics like chess, Clue, and Scrabble to modern favorites like Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Codenames. There’s something for every kind of player: Party Games: Telestrations, Just One, Strategic/4X Titles: Eclipse, Terraforming Mars, Cooperative Games: Forbidden Island, Robinson Crusoe, Escape Room-Style: Unlock!, Deckscape, Dexterity Games: Jenga, Junk Art, Crokinole, Solo Play Options: Coffee Roaster, Under Falling Skies, Family Favorites: Flip 7, Two Rooms and a Boom.

“Pretty much any type you can imagine–from easy-to-learn to incredibly deep and complex,” said Pearce. “We’re talking 40-page rulebooks here.”

The Grubby Gamer is open Thursday through Saturday, from 3 to 9 p.m., with Wednesdays reserved for private events. A day pass is $5, and a yearly membership – which grants unlimited visits – is available for $60.

For now, the space is dedicated to play only, but Pearce says she plans to offer a small selection of games for sale in the future. She also offers private rentals on Wednesdays and Saturdays before 3 p.m., making it a possible venue for birthday parties, family game days, or club gatherings.

Though Pearce is the primary operator, she sometimes gets a hand from her husband and two adult children.

“It’s really a family effort,” she said.

Announcements about special events, theme nights, and new games are shared regularly on the business’s Facebook page and website at thegrubbygamer.com.

“The website is live,” Pearce added, “but my web designer is still working on some of the details.”

For questions or to book a private event, Pearce can be contacted through the Grubby Gamer Facebook page.