New Lincoln Gaming Cafe Owners Mix Work and Play

Jenna Thompson Lincoln Journal Star

On Fridays in Haymarket in winter, families escape the cold and gather around tables with coffee and hot chocolate inside the historic Creamery building. Each group cuddles, teases, cheers and laughs over a different board game – all the emotions involved in a lively family game night.

There is a maze of bookshelves full of games for them to take behind. His choices range from dominoes to trivia. There are games about cats, cryptids and Jane Austen.

Mind Games, a cafe that opened earlier this month at 701 P St., boasts a collection of more than 800 games and counting.

Its owner, Sam Volokmer and Alma Cerretta may have recently opened the cafe to the public, but Mana Games has been causing a stir since 2018, when they began hosting game nights at Cosmic Eye Brewing. The 15-year-old’s friends began to build a loyal following in Lincoln through his weekly shows. Eventually they felt ready to move to a permanent location.

In September, the pair launched a Kickstarter campaign to make their dreams a reality. by offering membershipmerchandise and even a chance to be part of a mural inside the shop, the campaign raised more than $21,000.

The store’s grand opening on January 8th felt like a victory.

“We had a lot of people here that day,” Serreta said. “it was really great.”