Review Fix chats with Stephen Fontana, the owner of the Kobold Cafe, who discusses his Kickstarter and why bringing an establishment like this to Brooklyn would be amazing for the community.
Check out their site- HERE.
Review Fix: Why is your business special?
Stephen Fontana: When I was a pre-teen there was this tiny card shop called Gamers Illusions. My friends and I would visit this store after school and on weekends every chance we could. The shop sold Pokémon Cards and Mage Knight and all that kind of stuff but the thing that stood out to me at the time was that they had two tables set up for kids to sit down and play games together. I made a lot of friends and looked forward to learning new games and about the other kids from different schools…but after only a year or so, the shop closed as the owner moved out of state.
I never forgot the feeling I had in that shop. I want to create a space for the next generation and big kids like me who crave a space to hang out, play table top games, and build a community.
Review Fix: How did you get started?
Fontana: I was sitting there just reflecting on “legacy”. What my legacy would be. I realized that as an adult, I really didn’t have one. So I started thinking back on what means something to me and what it came down to was community. My community means the world to me . I’m a father of two young kids now who have nowhere to go after school.
So I started writing down a business plan for my dream shop. A table top gaming cafe and retail shop for all to enjoy. As I told more people, I realized it really was a fantastic idea. So I kept pushing. And now here we are…
Review Fix: Why go to Kickstarter?
Fontana: Turns out – banks, the SBA and all other conventional ways of funding do not want to help startups. Big scary I suppose. I understand starting a brick-and-mortar business is risky, but I know this will work. If I had every dime I needed sitting in my savings account, I would throw it all in myself. The reality is, I don’t. So, I am asking people who love table top gaming, who love our community, who want to see this neighborhood have an awesome experience, for help.
Review Fix: How do you want to affect the community?
Fontana: Man, first and foremost I want to have a safe and fun space for people to come hang out. You may not think that could make huge waves in the community of Dyker/Bensonhurst, but it absolutely will. I have seen vape shops, hookah lounges, massage parlors, and nail salons open up seemingly monthly. What are the kids and teens supposed to do? We have some card shops around, but their primary purpose is to sell you some items and you go home. I want Kobold Cafe BK to be a place people say “hey let’s go play a game of Catan and grab a cup of coffee”.
Most importantly, though, I want to be a space for kids to come after school and be rewarded for their hard work in school. I am going to have a rewards system in place for every student from pre-k to high school. If you do your homework in the store after school, show it to me, and I will give you a stamp on your Rewards Card (name still in development). You can save up your stamps to redeem for in-store items. I am also going to reward kids report cards. Every A will get a stamp etc. I imagine kids helping each other finish homework so they can pool stamps together to get a booster box of their favorite trading card game. Build a community.
Review Fix: What has the journey been like?
Fontana: It has been the most fun I have had in years. Seeing an idea go from my brain to reality is a trip. The most incredible thing about it all, though, has been nearly every single person I have shared this with has begged me not to give up on it. To keep pushing. That this is something this town needs. Has it been all sunshine and rainbows? Nope! I have had to learn a LOT about not only how to start a business, but how to start basically three at once! A cafe is its own beast. A retail shop is its own. And then there is the rental aspects. New York has a LOT of requirements and it has been insane learning them all. That being said…now that I have done all the research and have help in the right places…this entire thing is just plain exhilarating!
Review Fix: What are your goals for your business?
Fontana: My goals are simply for all of the arms of the Cafe to work together to build a great community. If the community is flourishing – then the business will follow.
Review Fix: What makes this Kickstarter special?
Fontana: The answer here is two-fold. One – it’s my only option. It all rides on this. So, it is the definition of “special” in that respect. On a more technical note, the rewards we are offering are pretty cool! I am offering items that will NOT be available outside of Kickstarter, for one. Secondly, I am offering a way to etch your name on the cafe (literally). Thirdly, people from all over the world can chip in and help a community build up something incredible in the table top gaming space. How cool is that?!
Review Fix: What are the goals if you are not funded?
Fontana: If this isn’t funded, I will do my research and rebuild the kickstarter and try again. Maybe scale back the design a bit if I need to tighten the overall cost. I honestly believe in this way too much not to push as hard as I can. I would also take the information gathered from the campaign and open up to the possibility of a partnership to make it work.
Review Fix: What would you tell someone who wants to support you but is hesitant?
Fontana: In a world where kids and teens are finding themselves in front of a computer screen far more than face to face, you will be creating an incredible space for a community to come together and build relationships. In supporting Kobold Cafe BK, you will be supporting me. A man who has been told over and over again what I cannot do, only to constantly overachieve. With your support, I cannot fail.
Review Fix: Who is supporting you? Anyone cool? Shout them out! Name drop.
Fontana: I want to thank BrooklynOne Productions for helping me with the events aspect of Kobold Cafe BK and helping connect me with local businesses. Check them out over at Industry City. They are an INCREDIBLE company putting on amazing productions in the community.
I also could not do this without my bud Andreas Asimakis. From the second I have mentioned this, he has been asking me how he can help and how he can be a part of it. He helped me secure my LLC and so much just to get this dream started. Andy and I built an amazing indie gaming podcast over the last 8 years together, and I simply couldn’t imagine taking this on without him.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Fontana: Sadly, businesses need to turn to crowdsourcing to get off the ground, but for Kobold Cafe BK…it makes sense. We are trying to build a community…so who better to help get it going than the incredible TTRPG and Table Top Gaming communities around the world? Let’s do this! Roll for initiative!
Thank you for the interview!