The great thing about communities is that you’ll often find a community within.
Or there are always opportunities to create a community within.
That is what Monticello’s Andrew Clodfelter is doing in Mahomet with Rad Lad Games.
“I grew up in Monticello – and pretty much if you wanted to have fun – you either went to Champaign or you played out in the yard,” Clodfelter said. “So when I decided to open this store in Mahomet, it’s for not only Mahomet – but Seymour, Fisher, Mansfield, Monticello, Farmer City, White Heath, Bement, Surrounding towns, and every small-town kid who ever just wanted a place to play with their friends.”
Rad Lad Games, which will sell games of all types—board games, collectible card games, role-playing games, and toys—and have space, about three-fifths of the store, for people to play will be located at 415 E. Main St. where Revolve Hair Studio and Paint Like Me used to be downtown.
“For the most part if you don’t plug it in or charge it, we either have it or can get it,” Clodfelter said.
Clodfelter hopes that those looking for the same community in this world will be about to find it in the gaming area that is designed to seat about 25-35 people. This space will be available without an associated fee.
“Sometimes it’s hard finding someone who plays the same game(s) as you too, so we will keep running lists of folks looking for others that play ‘X’ game, so we can potentially help connect people with common interests,” he added.
While gaming stores, even those that have open play areas, are not hard to find, usually they are in larger cities, like Chicago, Champaign or Bloomington.
“I believe that people should be able to have fun no matter where they live,” Clodfelter said.
Being in Mahomet provides an environment beyond just kids who might like to play or learn a new board game with their friends, though.
“Beyond students, this is a community of some extremely brilliant professionals. Board games aren’t just for kids anymore,” Clodfelter said. “And neither are role-playing games.
“After a long day or a long week of work, being able to immerse yourself in a complex board game or take part in the collaborative storytelling of a roleplaying game is an incredible release from the mundane.
“And let’s face it, with jobs, families, commitments, etc., getting together becomes harder and harder. So when you do get together with friends, playing a game together can be the absolute perfect activity to make it count and build memories with friends and family.”
“I believe whether you play, your spouse plays, your kid’s play, or your grandkids play, you should be able to walk into a store, sit down and play. and feel completely safe. And I can think of no safer and more welcoming place to spend time than the absolutely gorgeous Main Street, Mahomet.”
“I think my favorite thing about Tabletop Gaming is that it brings people together. So each experience is more than just ‘we played a game and it was fun’,” he said. “You get to see your friends, you laugh, you tell jokes, you make memories, you may even get a little heated – but in retrospect that can be funny too.
“Tabletop Gaming is and will always be the leader in ‘you had to be there’ stories. Other folks might not get it, but for those who were there, it was magical.”
He hopes in 20 years, Mahomet residents will look back on those times spent at Rad Lad Games.
He said that this word, “community” may seem “willy nilly” at times. But the genuine sense and meaning of ‘community’ is so powerful,” according to Clodfelter. “Providing a sense of belonging, new friendships, and a place to go when other parts of life might not be going so great or might not make sense…that’s the ideal. A simple escape – not so far from home.”
