Norwalk Small Business Spotlight: Game Haven of Connecticut

Every local business has a story worth sharing with the community. And that’s the belief behind this exciting series — to shine the spotlight on all our favorite local businesses, and to learn a little about the ones we may not know that well.

• Business: Game Haven of Connecticut

• Owner/President: Brent Goren
• Website: www.ctgamehaven.com

• Address: 10 Cross Street Norwalk, CT 06851


• Email: brent@ctgamehaven.com

How did you come up with the name? We wanted to give people the impression that our store is more than just a store. It’s a community center. We wanted Game Haven to be a nexus for bringing people together in a clean, safe, comfortable environment. The name is simple, descriptive, and effective.

Why start a business in this town? We love the Norwalk area, the community, the beaches, the downtown SoNo nightlife, and especially the traffic!

Briefly, what business are you in? Game Haven is a place to play video games, to learn about video games, and to make new friends. We sell snacks, drinks, and assorted merchandise but at its heart we’re providing people with an incredible venue and an amazing social experience. We have daily events, monthly tournaments, charity fundraisers and game viewing parties.

What’s the most difficult moment or challenge you’ve faced as a business owner? Reminding myself to slow down and not to do too many things at once. We’ve got so many incredible ideas for the business but we’ve got to focus on making the core of our product – the Game Haven experience – enticing, valuable and self-sustaining. We’ll gradually add on new components so we can perfect them – never releasing or unveiling anything until it’s the best it can be.

What’s been your favorite moment or proudest achievement since opening? I don’t think of any particular “defining” moment but my proudest achievement is ongoing. When I speak to Game Haven patrons and listen to their experiences at our store I beam from ear-to-ear. Kids love the idea and immediately gravitate to the new systems, jump into games with other patrons, and make new friends. Parents have expressed to me relief and peace-of-mind knowing that their kids are safe, having fun, and out of the house. They also really like how convenient and affordable it is to drop children off, run some errands, and pick them up an hour or two later. What makes me proudest is giving people what they want and making them happy.

How does your business give back or get involved in the community? We recently partnered with the Children’s Miracle Network for the Extra Life Video Game charity and raised almost $200 for hospitalized children. We also did a Thanksgiving food drive where we rewarded people for donating food with free game time.

Would you like to see your small business showcased in this series? Email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.