Fun and games come to Rideau Street

Paula Kelsall

Steve Ogden and Ajà Besler, partners in life and in business, were sad when the Comic Book Shoppe on Bank Street closed for good last summer. It had been their favourite place to play HeroClix, a tactical game featuring familiar comic book action figures. What to do? Open a place of their own, of course!

Studio Staja had its grand opening at 507 Rideau St. in November. It promises to be a haven for gaming enthusiasts, a welcoming space for those who are curious about games, and a fun place to browse for Christmas gifts. There are new and used games for sale, along with locally made paraphernalia; buttons and stickers, cute crocheted keychains, and some eye-popping art (some of it created by Ogden and Besler) displayed in the seating area upstairs.

There are refreshments as well; locally sourced coffee, teas and sodas as well as baked treats from Little Jo Berry’s Bakery in Hintonburg. Everything served is vegan, so you’ll be getting your latte with oat milk.

There’s a calendar on the wall announcing coming events. To begin with, these will mostly be sessions featuring action figures and collectible cards like Hero-Clix, Pokemon and Disney Lorcana. These games all have enthusiasts in Ottawa, so there’s a community all ready to enjoy the new shop. On a recent Sunday afternoon, there was a happy hum coming from upstairs as a group of Lorcana players deployed their magical resources. “That’s what I’ve been wanting to hear,” said Ogden, with a smile.

They have lots of ideas for bringing in newcomers over the coming months and giving us all a chance to sample new board and card games. Events for grandparents and grandchildren to check out a game and get some expert instruction together, or for second language learners to practice vocabulary skills along with their card strategy, are just a gleam in Besler’s eye right now. Plans are also afoot to start offering creative arts events like paint nights or crochet sessions in the new year.

Right now, there’s nothing to stop a group of friends from dropping by to try out some of the store’s sample games. There’s no cover charge, and you can enjoy a snack while you play, as well as a 10% discount if you decide to take your own copy of the game home at the end of the day.

Keep an eye on their website www.staja.ca or on their Facebook page for coming events, and to browse the merchandise. Currently, notices on the website warn of shipping delays due to the Canada Post strike, but here in Sandy Hill we have nothing to prevent us from dropping by to enjoy the cheerful ambience and a coffee as we consider the people in our lives who need a set of Spiderman buttons, a Fantasy Warlock bath bomb, or a set of the game Maudit Mot Dit.