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Bored Bard Games: New business in IM provides a place to shop, play

STAR WARS UNLIMITED is a popular new game that Erik Wilson carries at the recently opened Bored Bard Games store in downtown Iron Mountain. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Erik Wilson recently turned his love of board games into his own retail shop.

Wilson, along with partner Josh Kernen, started an online store in October, then moved to their physical location at 224 E. Hughitt St. in downtown Iron Mountain in January.

Bored Bard Games for now is a side business for Wilson, who works days selling career coaching over the phone. But with a fast start, he hopes to see Bored Bard Games develop into a full-time operation in the next few months.

He said he’s overwhelmed with the community’s response so far.

“Unbelievable — there are people here every night playing games,” Wilson said. “We had to buy more tables to accommodate them. We are doing all sorts of game nights. It has been crazy, very supportive.”

BORED BARD GAMES opened at 224 E. Hughitt St. in downtown Iron Mountain in January. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)

Kernen came up with the bored part of Bored Bard Games because he said Wilson needed something to do with his time. Bard is a musical character in the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons and Wilson relates, as he plays several instruments himself.

In the months leading up to Bored Bard Games’ opening, Wilson said it was a struggle to find a location for the business. One potential location brought problem after problem until it finally fell through altogether. When the Hughitt Street site became available, Wilson said that no remodeling was needed — they were able to move in on a Saturday and were open on Monday.

In those early days, demand for games was so great it exceeded their inventory. As Bored Bard Games continues to grow, they have added $6,000 in inventory in just two months.

Bored Bard Games sells a wide variety of games, something for all interests and ages. Some of the more popular title include Settlers of Catan, Magic: The Gathering, Point Salad, Munchkin, Star Wars Unlimited and, of course, Dungeons and Dragons.

In addition, Bored Bard Games also has trading cards, game accessories and collectibles such as locally made Dungeons and Dragons potion jewelry and funko pop collectibles.

Bored Bard Games will also sell vintage video games.

Wilson said new games come out all the time, such as one called Wyrmspan, and he looks forward to having them in stock as well.

The store aims to foster a sense of community, too, as a place to play the games.

Bored Bard Games has partnered with Dickinson County Board Gamers to host their events at the store.

Games can be played each night Bored Bard Games is open: Mondays are board game night, Tuesdays and Fridays Magic: The Gathering (Commander), Thursdays feature Dungeon and Dragons and Saturdays are for Disney’s Lorcana.

Many other events are in the works, Wilson said.

“I hope it grows into something where nightly we are continuing to do more and more events and more games that people are interested in,” he said.

An avid gamer himself, he said he is eager to get to know his customers and help them find a game that is right for them.

“Just having a great conversation with somebody, asking a few questions, can help me to direct them into a game they might like,” Wilson said.

Bored Bard Games is open 5 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

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The Daily News plans to highlight some of the new businesses in the region. Know of a business that recently opened? Contact Jim Paul at 906-774-2772, ext. 229, or jpaul@ironmountaindailynews.com.

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