How Game Kastle’s Boyd Stephenson Is Building Community Through Play

By Kekeletso Nkele, small.news Assistant

(small.news) — When Boyd Stephenson opened his Game Kastle store in November 2021, it marked a major pivot—not just professionally, but personally.

After years of working as an attorney and in government affairs, Stephenson found himself reassessing his future during the pandemic. “I wasn’t enjoying it as much,” he told small.news Managing Editor, Sierra Campbell. “Ultimately, when you are someone’s attorney… you’re staff. And I was kind of ready to lead something on my own.”

That shift led him to Game Kastle, a tabletop gaming franchise focused on board games, collectibles, and in-store play. While the store in College Park, Maryland, officially opened on November 20, 2021, Stephenson spent nearly a year beforehand preparing, learning the business, and laying the groundwork for success.

“It seemed like it would be a really good option,” he explained, a chance to build something independent while serving a community.

The Reality of Running a Small Business Today

Like many small business owners, Stephenson has faced a series of economic headwinds.

“The economy has been very challenging,” he told small.news, pointing to the fact that unemployment in the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia) metropolitan area is roughly 41% higher than the national average.

On top of that, tariffs have hit the toy and collectibles industry particularly hard.

“For the last eight or nine months, multiple times a week, we’ve been having conversations about whether to hold prices steady or absorb cost increases ourselves,” he says. “Those are never fun conversations to have.”

Still, amid the pressure, moments of clarity have reinforced why the business matters. Stephenson recalls a customer who shared that visiting Game Kastle had helped her feel connected during a difficult period in her life.

“She told me that coming here made her feel like she was part of a community,” he says. “It really shows the power of games to bring people together.” That moment was deeply affirming, proof that he had made the right decision.

Learning to Expect the Unexpected

Five years into his journey with Game Kastle, Stephenson said the biggest lesson has been learning how to adapt.

“You don’t know what you don’t know,” he explained. “You have to be prepared for anything. Sometimes it walks in the door, sometimes it comes in the mail, and sometimes it comes in the e-mail. One way or another, some sort of craziness is coming.”

Running the business has stretched his flexibility and problem-solving skills in ways he never anticipated, but that growth has become part of the reward.

Why Supporting Small Businesses Matters

Supporting local businesses isn’t just about shopping local; it’s about sustaining entire ecosystems.

“Small businesses empower communities. Game Kastle, particularly, is an excellent example of this.”

Each year, between 8,000 and 10,000 new board games are created, according to Stephenson. Independent stores like Game Kastle help surface those games, especially ones designed by local creators who might otherwise be overlooked.

“When you spend money at a locally owned store, that money stays with the staff and ownership,” Stephenson explained. “And when you buy a locally designed game, your money supports a local artist.”

That circulation of support, he said, is how communities grow stronger. “This allows us to create an ecosystem of local design and distribution. And ultimately, it helps build local communities.”

For Game Kastle, the mission goes beyond games. It’s about connection, belonging, and proving that even in challenging times, small businesses remain powerful engines of community.

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