Located at 237 James Street North, The Bard and Bear is a games café owned by Mohawk College alumnus Steven Edmonds.
Steven’s journey into the world of board games began with his wife, who introduced him to the evolving board game scene.
Prior to his tenure at Mohawk College, Edmonds studied broadcast journalism at Seneca College.
Upon graduation, he was not met with many jobs in journalism.
The lack of jobs led him to get some seasonal holiday jobs selling board games.
Over time, his passion grew as he worked retail jobs in board game stores, eventually leading him to work in a board game café.
From this experience, Edmonds realized that he loved teaching people games and wanted to create his own space for connecting people through play.
When an opportunity to buy an existing café came up, Edmonds and his wife seriously considered it, but they decided against it.
“They were losing money and it was a terrible time for us, but we seriously considered it,” Edmonds said. “Someone else ended up buying it and it ended up closing down.”
However, that experience further solidified their dream of creating their own space for the community.
To help achieve this dream, Edmonds had to educate himself on how to run a business.
During the pandemic, Edmonds enrolled in and graduated from Mohawk College’s business fundamentals program.
Edmonds credits professor Laura Cole for teaching him how to provide a positive work environment and “how to be a good boss.”
“She taught me how to support people and help them grow,” Edmonds said.
The Bard and Bear officially opened a few years later, fulfilling Edmond’s vision of having “a place where people can bond over play.”
As for the future for The Bard and Bear, Edmonds is excited about the possibility, from organizing hidden identity games to hosting immersive events such as escape rooms.
Edmonds provided some insight towards Mohawk College students looking to open their own businesses.
“Stay humble and stay a student,” he said. “Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you, and choose work that feels like a passion.”
For those interested in seeing what The Bard and Bear is all about, they recommend reserving a table in advance, as they can get fairly busy.
The game cover is $7 per person for 3 hours at the table to play as many games as you would like.
Children under 10 are $3.50, and those under three years old play free.
English