New gaming cafe cleared to open for business in Easton

EASTON, Pa. — Easton’s Zoning Hearing Board has granted a local businessperson a variance which will allow her to open a new gaming café on Northampton Street.

During the board’s Monday hearing, Barbara Vasconez requested a parking variance in order to open up a gaming center focused on board and card games, including Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons and more.

• Easton businessperson Barbara Vasconez was approved for a parking variance at the city’s Zoning Hearing Board Monday evening, allowing her to open a new gaming café
• Because there are no specifications for gaming cafes in the city, parking lot calculations were based on a restaurant, as they plan to serve food
• The board quickly approved the request, allowing for Vasconez to open Mystery Box Games at 1458 Northampton Street

The only issue with the proposed business stemmed from the fact that the city has no specifications for gaming cafes, resulting in the business requiring 18 parking spaces at 1458 Northampton Street – the proposed location for the café – a practical impossibility in Easton.

“Because they will be serving food, they used the parking lot calculation for a restaurant,” Chad DeFilice, the attorney representing 1458 Packard LLC, which owns the space, said. “By the zoning officer’s calculation, I think it required 18. The previous use had four, which was a laundromat.”

Vasconez, who previously owned Punch Out Games at 161 Northampton Street, explained her old landlord presented numerous issues when her business occupied the space, including electrical issues with other tenants and neglect, which led to water leaks among other issues.

Eventually, Vasconez said, her landlord took her to court, and she opted to leave the old location behind in mid-May 2023.

She said 1458 Northampton Street, which includes roughly 1,400 square feet of space, was available for rent instead.

“Honestly, it’s a better space for us, because we’ve become the prime spot for Paxinosa [Elementary School], so kids who don’t have a place to go after school can come to our space to learn how to play Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons, and just be in a safe environment,” Vasconez said, adding she had an agreement with the school to conduct its National Night Out and other activities.

Vasconez said the new location, named Mystery Box Games, will also serve food, including freshly prepared, healthy options targeted at providing children with good meals. Furthermore, the store will sell games.

According to Vasconez, the shop will likely be open 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Based on the location’s space, Vasconez estimates she will see 50 to 60 customers per day.

“We charge an admission fee of $5 per person. They come in and spend game night with their friends for two hours or more, and we also host events,” Vasconez said, adding she is currently running gaming events at other Easton businesses.

Despite the assumption that board games are largely for children – and the partnership with the elementary school – Vasconez said the café would embrace gamers of all ages.

“It’s for all ages; we welcome all levels of gamers. We wanted to just include the neighborhood, we’re all about keeping up the community, so we thought doing something with Paxinosa would be really fun. But it’s for everybody,” Vasconez said.

After speaking with Wizards of the Coast, which owns Magic: The Gathering, Vasconez was pleased to announce the store would be part of the official Wizards Play Network, allowing them to have access to special materials and events.

After a brief discussion among the board members, which included a joking suggestion by Vasconez to establish a “City of Easton Twister Night” at the café, the board approved the request.

“I’m back in business, and I’m very excited. I know all of our gamers are very happy to have us back, and have been very supportive; the city has been supportive, and it all feels very nice now,” Vasconez said before heading on over to Porter’s Pub and Restaurant to celebrate her victory and squeeze in a few games of Magic: The Gathering with her friends.