New Beginning For Milford's TJ Collectibles As Gaming Café

MILFORD, MA — A longtime downtown Milford business will close on Friday, the beginning of a rebirth as a live gaming café.

TJ Collectibles, which has been a staple in downtown Milford for more than two decades, will begin moving this weekend to a new space at the plaza at 146 South Main Street, where it will become TJ Café and Games.

TJ Collectibles owner Tom Shea told the Board of Selectmen Monday the new café will offer more space and parking than his downtown location, plus new features that will help him reach a wider audience.

The gaming café will have espresso drinks, treats like muffins and cookies and ice cream from Rhode Island's The Ice Cream Machine. But the biggest new feature is a gaming space where people can come and try out board games. Shea also wants to host gaming leagues.

"It'll be a place for families to come, hang out and have a good time," he told the Selectmen.

Gaming cafés have become more popular in recent years alongside renewed interest in games like "Dungeons and Dragons," "Magic: The Gathering" and games in the "Catan" series. TJ's will also be unique in the area, with few options for a board game gathering space.

The Selectmen unanimously approved TJ's victualler license on Monday — the only objection that the treats might be too big of a draw for them.