One of Lismore’s best kept secrets has again opened its doors to good times and good company.

Still a popular meeting place, Unplugged Games on Dawson Street is again filled with smiling people who have come together to play games and make social connections.

A home school group meets to play and hang out.

Shop manager Liam Fraser-Quick said after a tough few years, having the games shop back open has been welcomed by the local community.

“After the first flood in February, we lost stock but opened three weeks later,” Liam said.

“Then the second flood happened and we were ankle deep water - and we had to get everything out again.”

Now, the shop is operating at a limited capacity – and it’s all thanks to the fact that shop staff managed to save much of the stock – cards and games – from the mega-flood.”

“We did lose lots of single cards - like for Magic the Gathering in the warehouse – even though we put stuff up high,” he said.

The flood

The day before the flood, Liam said they moved everything up higher than the 2017 flood level height - which was waist high - and weighed down the tables so thru wouldn't float.. 

But by night time, they realised it would be higher - and they took out all the board games and cards.

“It was enough to reopen with,” Liam said. “We also have good suppliers who let us pay later for stock.

“In the flood, the cards in the hard cases survived. They took on moisture and warped but were ok.

“We sold them online and the wider community saw them and wanted to help out and loved buying cheaper cards.

“We had so much help in the floods too. Lots of community members helped us clear the and some people took paint and miniatures home to scrub them for us.

“It’s humbling and makes you realise how much you mean to the community.”

The future

“In a few months, the main play space opens next door - where more people can fit in. We can hold bigger events like Warhammer and Dungeon and

Dragons games there.

“At the moment La Nova Massage is working in there temporarily.

Don’t grow up

“I’ve been in this industry for over a decade and I have great admiration for those that play games and refuse to grow up,” Liam said.

“Everyone gets told to put down the toys and pick up the tools - but they want to keep playing games – and they have tools too.

“I like giving people a place to come together to smile and sit across the table and hang out in person, rather than just sitting alone behind a screen.

“Later we will have a fridge and sandwiches creature comforts we don’t have now, when we have more power points”

The shop now holds a weekly roster of different events, board and card games. You can visit the Facebook site for details.

You can drop in, hang out, have a chat with like minded people - buy cards and and play games like Dungeons and Dragons, UDO, Flesh and Blood, Monopoly, Scrabble and Risk.

The shop is open Monday to Saturday, from 9.30am to 8.30 weekdays or 5.30pm Saturdays.