Gaming Grounds Owners want to Spruce up their Neighborhood

It sounds like an unlikely story; a comic book and role-playing shop looking to spruce up and connect with the surrounding neighborhood.

But that's exactly what the owners of on Stinaff Street are trying to do.

Commodore and Caitlin Campbell say they've created a business where novice and expert fans alike of a variety of board, card and role-playing games feel welcome, and they're looking to expand that atmosphere beyond the shop's walls.

"We've become a place where people can come in and not feel weird about what they like," Commodore said.

"Not feel judged," Caitlin added.

The shop, which celebrates its one-year anniversary in September, has launched a fundraising campaign to brighten its corner of the neighborhood by adding picnic tables, outdoor lights, weeding and removing graffiti.

Much of the planned improvements focus on the store itself, including plans to pressure wash the building, add a sign, fresh paint and possibly a mural. But the Campbells also want to install a bike rack, put up lights to illuminate the adjacent alley way, designate a smoking area and build a fence between the shop and .

The store facelift is about presenting a property that mirrors the tidy homes surrounding them on Stinaff Street, the Campbells said. The picnic tables, bike rack, fence and other improvements are meant to expand the sense of community that's developed inside the store out into the nighborhood.

"The idea is just to brighten this corner of the neighborhood," Commodore said.

Inside the store, you'll find practically everything you need to play Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon and other games. But the store is less about selling the necessities than it is about providing a gathering space for people to come and play together.

"We pretty much host everything we sell here," Commodore said.

A fan of the role-playing game Scion, he said they host tournaments for different games frequently. Caitlin favors the game Call of Cthulhu. It's not uncommon to find the owners playing with their customers.

They don't sell games or items they don't have a personal interest in.

"Us having enthusiasm for what we do here helps us connect with the people who come in," Caitlin said.

The Campbells' goal is to raise $5,000 to make the improvements to the store, but they'll do whatever they can with however much they raise. So far, nine donors have contributed $815 to their IndieGoGo campaign.

To contribute, visit Gaming Grounds' IndieGoGo website.