Akron's new Green Dragon Inn offers a place for game board enthusiasts to chill

There's a game for just about anyone to play at Akron's newest downtown bar.

Hungry, Hungry Hippo?

Check.

Excavation Earth?

Got it.

Heck, there's even a board game for newspaper geeks called Extra! Extra! Read All About It − Making, Raking, Breaking the News.

There are some 725 games in the library at the new Green Dragon Inn on East Market Street in downtown Akron.

The bar is holding its official grand opening this weekend.

And this isn't your typical tavern.

It's a bit more medieval than iys contemporary predecessors − the Uptown and Sky lounges − that once occupied the second-floor space.

Building owner Jameson Reeves has completely renovated the bar right down to the bricks that were hidden behind drywall.

He's left some of them exposed so guests can catch a glimpse of the long-hidden architectural features.

The bar that serves as a logical extension to Reeves' other business venture, Full Grip Games, a floor below is bit like walking into a "Dungeons and Dragons" movie set meets Holiday Inn Express with a sniff of Chipotle.

The expansive space is a modern take on a medieval theme, from the bare light bulb string lights attached to rope that hang over the stairs leading to the castle door entrance to the dragon faucets in the restrooms.

Almost everything inside the Green Dragon Inn was custom made.

But a few items with a bit of history.

The two large chairs at the selfie station just inside the entrance were salvaged from the old Saint Peter Church in Cleveland.

And the various light fixtures that hang from the ceiling were once part of a ginormous chandelier that graced a mansion in Cleveland.

There are oversized tables in the bar space that can accommodate up to 140 people so guests can enjoy a drink from the bar and an appetizer and still have some elbow room to play a board game.

Unlike some other similar places, Green Dragon Inn lets guests play any of the games from the bar's expansive library for free.

But Reeves hopes those playing at the table will be generous with their orders at the bar, which will feature a variety adult libations and coffee from Akron Coffee Roasters.

For those gamers looking for some personal space to play a game with a group of friends, Reeves said, there are two private rooms cleverly hidden behind doors that resemble a shelf of books.

Think of it like a speakeasy escape room.

The private rooms that can accommodate up to 24 people each are up for grabs for $50 for two hours and $10 for each additional hour.

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The concept of bars and restaurants that cater to board games is not new to Greater Akron. There's also the Great Oaks Tavern in Wadsworth.

The story behind the Green Dragon Inn name

The Green Dragon Inn − so named after the tavern the Hobbits frequent in the "Lord of the Rings" − is open seven days a week. More information can be found on its Facebook page.

The bar's mission is simple.

Reeves said he wanted to have more space aside from the tables at his Full Grip Games for folks to sit down and enjoy a good board or role-playing game along with a drink or two.

His own love of board games was born in Akron.

Reeves grew up in Akron's Ellet neighborhood and set off to Chicago to pursue a career in banking.

But it was in Chicago that he joined a business venture that opened a board game store.

He took his experience from that venture and decided to come back to Northeast Ohio and open his own shop in his hometown.

That was some seven years ago.

Unlike many businesses, Reeves said, the pandemic was actually good for business as folks rediscovered board and role-playing games.

As business at Full Grip Games grew, Reeves said, he knew he wanted to create a cool space where folks can gather to play games in a bar-like setting.

And with the extensive library of games available, he said, it also gives folks the chance to try out a game before purchasing it for their personal collections.

The Green Dragon Inn took about a year and half to come together.

And he hopes it will be a downtown space where fanciful battles are waged and friendships are forged.

"Games serve as a community," he said. "The players can sit with a stranger and play for hours and hopefully leave as friends."

Craig Webb, who always goes for Siam in the game of Risk, can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Green Dragon Inn offers a place for game board enthusiasts to chill