Players Restaurant

Most of my friends were at their friends or family for Thanksgiving, so I decided to enjoy a quiet dinner at Manhattans, a restaurant on M street. After a short while, a couple of people sat down beside me and we soon started talking. I mentioned randomly that I enjoyed the TV show Sex and the City, and asked  whether they'd like to play the Sex and the City Trivia game that I had just purchased. They said they would like that, so I walked home, grabbed the game, and returned with it under my arm. We had a great time asking each other trivia questions, as well as some of the "truth or dare" style questions that can sometimes be a bit embarassing to answer in front of strangers. We had such a good time that we pondered whether it might be a good concept for a restaurant; a place that served food and drink, as well as supplying the patrons with a variety of fun games. People entering the restaurant would choose which game they wished to play; groups could form their own game, whereas singles and couples could be grouped to form larger parties to play a particular game. In addition, games could be subtlely modified so that losing a particular turn might result in having to order a shot (thereby improving the restaurant's profit as well as the general spirit of the game). We came up with a great name for such a restaurant - "Players". If anyone's heard of such a restaurant, please inform me. I have to say, I like the idea so much, I'm tempted to invest in such a venture.

Comments

[Dylan Greene]

I don't know the name of it, but in Cleavland Park there's a basement pool hall that also has various nostalgic board games and a fully stocked working Atari.

I've seen board games offered at small family-owned coffee houses before Starbucks put them out of business or bought their leases.

I think back in the day Tryst used to even have a selection of board games, but I'd image it to be hard to keep all the pieces together with a rowdy post-drinking crowd.

What I haven't seen is a nice restaurant that offers games to play.

I could see a family section in your restaurant as well. How often do parents spend playing board games with their kids? Or have a nice long relaxing dinner without worrying about the kids getting bored.

This would also be perfect for dating. I've been sick of of dinner and a movie dating for years. Movie theaters are no longer romantic, and playing a game is far more interactive than just sitting in a dark room.

So, it seems like a good idea to me....

Anyone for dinner and a game? :)

[kytari]

It would be hard to be profitable simply because you can't "turn and burn" tables very fast and you couldn't determine how long it would take before another party would get seated. I have been to a lot of coffee houses (prior to the starbucks invasion) where chess boards and other games were made available with a driver's license or student ID keeping the games intact or promptly replaced. I do have a group of pals that have a monthly traveling dinner/brunch party where we always play games (Jenga anyone?) hula hoop, and other miscellaneous fun things from our childhood. That keeps it personal and fun.

[Michael Raia]

Currently in Austin, TX the all-powerful University of Texas Board of Regents is locked in a bitter land dispute with Players Restaurant, a local Austin favorite since 1981. Texas State Legislation is currently working on an amendment to a bill that would limit the use of eminent domain by institutions such as a state university to take over land for the "public good." (The University intends to demolish the restaurant to build it's 117th parking garage.) Please visit www.saveplayers.com to find out more.