Shuffle N Roll, a tabletop game store in Mebane, hosts a game night every Thursday at 6 p.m. and every Saturday at 7 p.m. for all game players, but particularly for “Magic: The Gathering” lovers. “Magic: The Gathering” is a collectible trading card game where players “duel” using their customized card decks. The store, opened by owner Austin Smith, has been a longtime dream of his.
This game night has filled a space in Mebane where people can gather and connect to those with shared interests.
“I started Mebane game nights just for something to do in Mebane,” Smith said. “I didn't like having to drive 15 to 20 minutes out to go somewhere. And then, just because of how it grew, I figured I was able to do it with my personal timeline.”
The game nights have become popular, according to Smith, with some Saturdays reaching up to 80 people in attendance. Smith said he wanted to provide a community space where people can enjoy both meeting up with their regular groups and meeting new people.
A recent Pew Research Center study found that only 38% of men turn to a friend for emotional support. Shuffle N Roll has created an environment that could facilitate more connection.
Jesse Ribeiro, a longtime regular, said he has made new friends he wouldn’t have met otherwise. “Having the in-person, face-to-face creates a little more community,” Ribeiro said.
Rick Carmichael, another regular, first started playing “Magic: The Gathering” during his army deployments in 2013 and 2014 to Afghanistan.
“ A lot of my higher-ups had Magic cards and were like nerds, play,” Carmichael said, “Now, it’s literally, on my way home, I’m able to stop here till about 2 o’clock. That's one of the best parts. And it's just, I'm able to see my friends and have a good time.”
Since then, the game has become routine in his life, meeting with his group nearly every week to play.
“It's literally on my way home,” said Carmichael, “I'm able to stop here ’till about 2 o'clock. The store stays open, that's one of the best parts. And it's just, I'm able to see my friends and have a good time.”
Carmichael said the space has provided a place that people can hang out in, something Mebane lacked previously. In this space, he said he is able to relax and spend time with friends.
“It's guy time,” Carmichael said. “I'm able to stay here and stay out of trouble.”
Shuffle N Roll has been open for one year, and Smith has big plans for the space that he said he hopes he will one day achieve.
“I do hope to expand it, add on a bar and a full kitchen and everything else. But that’s years and years down the road,” Smith said.