The Uncommons staff operates the only game café in Manhattan, merging together the quintessential coffee shop with a game store.
Shelves, which line its walls and extend from the floor to the ceiling, features a wide selection of games, includeing everything from Scrabble to the Settlers of Catan.
It is now a popular hangout spot in Greenwich Village, but for over four decades, it was also the “home of chess in New York City.”
Before turning into a cafe, 230 Thompson Street was The Village Chess Shop, founded by George Frohlinde. It operated much like a club and celebrities, such as Dave Chappelle and Heath Ledger, have all played there.
The Village Chess Shop has since moved to a nearby location, but the Uncommons still continues to carry on the legacy of board gaming. Today it holds the largest library of games on the East Coast.
ADDRESS:
230 Thompson St., New York, 10012
