The Game Chest Welcomes Kids, Teens in Safe, Fun Forum in MV

(Mission Viejo, Ca) — As South Coast Air Quality Management District Issues another daily wildfire smoke advisory for the tragic #Holy Fire — an inferno-like wildfire our are OCFA firefighters are battling daily with other agency firefighters (and we thank them tremendously!!!), parents are faced with another day “indoors.”

SCAQMD Smoke Advisories mean business. And with so much emphasis in Orange County being on outdoor activities, having a safe, fun, educational and social environment indoors the entire family can go to is truly a pearl in the firestorm.

Here is a beautifully written article by the owners of The Game Chest of Mission Viejo. Every small business has a story. And it’s an honor to share The Game Chest story...

** Our Story: The Game Chest, From Dream to Reality **

The Game Chest was the brainchild of a single mom with a dream, and a willing business partner. Maryam Al-Hammami and Karen Altwein left their corporate jobs in 2017 to build a destination brick and mortar store, that would be a family destination venue, a safe place for kids, teens, and nerdy adults to congregate.

Having lived in an affluent south orange county community for years, and seeing that so many middle-school and high-school aged children still feel like outsiders in their own community, both moms realized they needed to find a way to provide for their children while giving back to the community.

The bedroom community of Ladera Ranch was not immune to bullying, childhood depression, and sadly, multiple teen suicides.

The best way to embrace our children’s individuality and their friends’ unique personalities was to build them a safe place to be themselves.

Whether it’s playing D&D or Pokemon or Magic the Gathering or playing board games, everyone knows they are welcome here. It’s the freedom of expression, the absence of judgement and the acceptance of all players is what sets our store apart.

We opened our Mission Viejo location in February 2017, and received a warm welcome from the community, as parents welcomed the return to basics and family time with free family board game nights and a rental library, facilitating game play at home.

We then took a bold step for two mompreneurs, and opened a second location in Torrance, in the Del Amo mall, in September 2017. Running a single store is a full time job so imagine running two stores.

With the closing of Toys R Us, our communities have limited options for toys and games, and we are hoping to fill the gap left by their closing, and bring the joy of table top gaming to a new generation of kids.

One of our biggest satisfactions is seeing our own children enjoying the fruits of our labors, whether it’s participating in one of our D&D campaigns or setting up a game night in the store with their friends – it’s definitely rewarding to see your teens and their peers enjoying wholesome, mind-expanding activities.

Mission Viejo: https://www.facebook.com/thegamechestoc/

26012 Marguerite Parkway, Suite C, Mission Viejo

(Oso & Marguerite)

Del Amo: https://www.facebook.com/thegamechestDelamo/

Del Amo Mall, upstairs near Nordstroms

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PHOTOS COURTESY THE GAME CHEST