In a world where most entertainment fits in the palm of your hand and screens compete for every spare moment of attention, Kent & Laura Coughlin are betting on something refreshingly not digital. Let's Roll Games, his newly opened specialty game store in Franklin, is a love letter to the kind of fun that requires a table, a group of people, and a willingness to put the phone down. We sat down with Kent to talk about what inspired the store, what's on the shelves, and why he believes there has never been a better time to roll the dice on a passion project like this one.
What was the inspiration behind the name?
Other than the obvious play on words, I graduated from Wheaton College, from where Todd Beamer also graduated. He was one of the several passengers who attempted to regain control of one of the planes hijacked on 9/11. While I did not know him personally, I hope the name is a nod to the sacrifice he and his fellow passengers made.
Board games and tabletop gaming have had a remarkable resurgence in recent years and not just for kids. What do you think is driving that, and how does Let's Roll Games fit into that?
The growth in this industry is forecasted to explode. While I could go on for days about the reasons why, I think a few of those reasons include people’s desire to take a more active role in entertainment activities. Rather than being a passive consumer, tabletop gamers are involved in the creation of their own entertainment. I also think that people are more interested in accumulating experiences rather than things and games are a means to that end. Meeting new people, learning something new, winning a game just hits different than getting a new high score. And finally, I think folks are looking for a more tactile experience. Instead of swiping across a phone’s screen, dealing cards, rolling dice and moving pieces provide a much more satisfying experience.
Tell me a little about yourself. Did you always have a passion for gaming?
I grew up in Chicago and Miami. After college, I worked as a disc jockey for a couple of years and went back to school for a degree in marketing, and then spent about 20 years in the financial services industry. The idea of opening a game store is an idea that had been germinating over the years. So when I got let go from my marketing gig of 21 years, I began to investigate what it would take to get started. Eventually, my wife said that if I did not give it a try, it would be wrong. And here we are.
Games were always a big part of my life: Monopoly with the neighbors, playing Rumikub with my mom and my grandmother at the kitchen table (that table now sits in the front of the store). We played all the classics with my own kids. My brother introduced us to Rail Baron and other games that have become family favorites. We played LCR while we waited in restaurants. As important as games are, they are really just a means to an end. I have seen how my family has connected through game play and I really want to provide others with the tools to do the same.
What does your inventory look like?
We carry four primary categories of games; board games (Monopoly, Clue), miniatures (Warhammer), role playing games (Dungeons & Dragons), and trading card games (Magic the Gathering). There are a number of factors that affect what I have in the store at any given time (supply, popularity, etc.) but I know that I am not going to be everything to everyone. I really want the store to be a place of discovery, a place where players can find either something new to excite them or a group of people as dedicated as they are about their favorite game.
Beyond just selling games, do you host events, tournaments, or game nights in the store?
Absolutely. We’re just about ready to announce our organized play programs. We’ll have sessions devoted to a particular game while others will just be open times where folks can come in, buy something off the shelf and play it right away, play something off our demo shelves, or I may just decide that I want to play something and folks can come join in.
Do you have a process for matching the right game to the right person or family?
It’s funny that you would ask. I was just reading an article about the use of games in a variety to therapeutical settings and the authors were proposing a system of classifying games to see if they could identify similarities between games that might produce the same benefits as other games. That got me thinking about what it would take to do the same for suggesting games to customers. I do have a set of questions I typically ask folks to help me identify preferences and suggest new games, but nothing formal.
What has the response from the community been like since you opened your doors in April?
I am overwhelmed by the support I have received from the community. It seems that they are just as happy to help me as I am to help them. The consistent theme I hear from folks that come into the store is their appreciation for having someplace local to visit and talk about games. As convenient as online shopping is, it just does not scratch that itch.
Are you wanting to build a destination store, grow a gaming community, all of the above, or something else?
I want to create a welcoming place where people can come and enjoy this hobby. Anything I can do to help them enjoy it is what I am aiming for.
LetsRollGames.com /@letsrollgames
"I have seen how my family has connected through game play and I really want to provide others with the tools to do the same."