Critical Grind Cafe Opens: 'About 400 Games In Our Library'

SHOREWOOD, IL — A new coffee shop — unlike any other in the Joliet, Plainfield and Shorewood area — will mark its official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. This marks the second week of being open for owners Dana Buxbaum and her husband Shaun Tennant.

They opened Critical Grind Board Game Café at 852 Sharp Drive in the Sharp Center off Black Road near Route 59. The coffee shop is close to the Bliss Hair Studio. The property was previously a kickboxing studio.

"I want people to come in and feel like they're hanging out at a friend's house," Buxbaum said of the atmosphere she's trying to create for Critical Grind.

When you visit Critical Grind, take a stroll toward the back of the business where you will find bookshelves filled with classic board games such as Clue and Sorry and others like The Serial Killer Trivia Game, Wits & Wagers, The Best of TV & Movies, Wit's End, Pictopia, Dragoon and more.

"We have about 400 games in our library, a little over that actually," Buxbaum said. "We accept public donations as well."

Her business card for Critical Card proclaims: "Life Is Short: Play More Games."

The board games available to play at Critical Grind are geared for all ages, Buxbaum said. "We're family friendly, and we're an open and inclusive environment.

"It's free to come play any games on the shelf. We do ask that you purchase something from the café, and we do have a game rental system where you can rent a game and take it home."
Board game rentals are $4 per day for up to one week, or you can purchase one of Critical Grind's subscription packages, its owner said.

Critical Grind is open six days a week. Its hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

It's closed on Wednesdays.

Buxbaum said she is closed on Wednesday because she realized she needed a mental health day, "because I can't be here seven days."

In 2018, she started an event company geared for microbreweries, cafés and libraries focused "on doing employee engagement events and team building. We still do those things," she explained.

Patch asked why she and her husband chose to open Critical Grind?

"So I always wanted a coffee shop," she said. "My husband and I combined our love of gaming with my vision of the coffee shop."

As far as the drinks are concerned, Critical Grind features coffee, tea, smoothies and refreshers.

Buxbaum has six specialty drinks and — an assortment of 14 special toasts.

As far as the games are concerned, "you can come and play at anytime," she said.

Critical Grind is also hosting certain game nights on different week days.

Magic the Gathering is Monday night; open game night is Tuesday; there's an open Dungeons & Dragons on Thursdays; themed board games on Fridays; special events are Saturdays; Family Day is Sunday.

Buxbaum said she and her husband are also Shorewood residents. She manages the café and Tennant, her husband and partner, is head game master and coordinates the events.

"We live here, we moved to Shorewood about seven to eight years ago," she remarked. "I've always wanted to open the café wherever I lived and be a part of the community."

What's the key to Critical Grind's success and growth?

"People just need to know we exist and how great we are," Buxbaum answered. "We're the only board game café in the area."

To learn more about pricing and holding events here, visit the Critical Grind website.