If you're a fan of board games, coffee, local brews, or just seeking a novel hangout spot, you'll want to mark your calendar for the late May opening of Another Round on Congress Street.
Owner Harry Sultan is preparing to unveil Portland's first board game bar and cafe at 549 Congress St. in Portland, Maine. In our recent discussion, it was clear he has put tremendous thought and effort into making this a truly unique space.
Sultan worked with Cheri Bonawitz and Karen Rich of Malone Commercial Brokers to secure the lease. “Cheri was there every step of the way,” Sultan explains, “I never really thought I would end up owning the space, and Cheri kind of helped me understand what it would take to go through that whole process and spelled everything out in a very demystifying way.”
Originally from New York, Sultan first discovered his love for Maine after attending the Salt Institute here in 2017. When the pandemic allowed him to relocate full-time, he identified an opportunity to fill a niche in Portland's hospitality landscape.
"We're aiming to create a space where you can swing by for great coffee or local craft beer, with a community board game focus at the core - something currently missing in Portland," explained Sultan.
From the layout to the amenities, every aspect has been strategically designed with community board gaming in mind. Sultan is working with Woodhall Architects and Construction to entirely transform the former downtown office space.
A centerpiece will be the massive, modular pegboard shelving system lining one wall to house Another Round's staggering collection of over 200 board games.
"We're making this custom pegboard shelving," said Sultan. "So, as we get new games or rotate the selection, the entire system is adjustable."
Sultan wants something there for everyone, from families, to board game enthusiasts, and anyone in between. Spanning the timeless classics like Monopoly and Guess Who, to the newer classics like Catan and Ticket to Ride, to the more advanced like Wingspan and Twilight Imperium, the pegboard shelving will artfully display the diverse library.
The layout will feature a handcrafted wooden bar serving espresso drinks and local beers, with seating for solo guests to enjoy a quick game while waiting to meet others. But the focus is on maximizing space with larger tables that can accommodate even the biggest board game setups.
"For me personally, I don't have a great place to play board games at home. That's a key reason why I felt a dedicated space like this was needed," noted Sultan.
Placards will be available for patrons to display at their table, signaling their interest in joining a game or having others join them in an intuitive way.
While groups like the local "FriendCon Alliance" exist, Sultan wanted to establish a physical hub to foster the existing board gaming community that had a little more flexibility with its hours, something he missed when first moving to Portland.
Following a soft opening around Memorial Day, Another Round plans to operate Wednesday through Sunday, 8am to 9pm initially to cater to tourists and those with flexible schedules. These hours and days are subject to change as they iron out operational details.
Longer-term, Sultan has ambitious plans to expand with a roastery and coffee carts once the board game bar concept is proven successful.
"This is the proof of concept I'm putting my full effort behind," said Sultan. "I'm hoping we can demonstrate that there's strong demand for spaces like this in Portland."
Based on the amount of thought poured into every detail, it's hard to imagine board game aficionados and novelty-seekers alike not embracing Another Round when it opens its doors at 549 Congress Street in late May. Sultan concludes, “as excited as I am to see it myself, I'm more excited for everyone else to come see it.”