By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Co-owner of Mind Sculpt Games Darcy Leech says buying the building at 4908 10th Street in Great Bend for their business has been one of the best decisions their company has made.
What started out as online sales, then to a physical address on Main Street, then to a spot on 10th, and now at its location on West 10th, Mind Sculpt Games aims to bring face-to-face gaming to families.
Leech says business has been booming since landing in their new location last December; and because of that, Mind Sculpt Games was recognized by the Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as one of the Emerging Businesses of the Year.
"We have a representative with the SBDC," said Leech. "When we got our new building, he saw some photos online, and told us we were going to be their Emerging Business of the Year."
Mind Sculpt Games will be recognized at the state Capital in Topeka Thursday, March 5 during a ceremony. Every year, eight regional Kansas SBDC offices nominate their existing, emerging, and exporting businesses of the year. There are 18 small businesses to be recognized Thursday.
Leech says early on there was a small group of followers for the store, but over time the store has evolved to provide something for everyone.
"It has really been cool to see our demographics grow," said Leech. "When we first opened, we were probably 80% male customers between the ages of 18 and 34. Now we have the moms, aunts, and grandmas shopping with us."
Leech says the store just brought in Lego products, and hopes that by Christmas, Mind Sculpt Games is the destination for non-screen entertainment. Leech wants to add puppets and Ty Beanie Babies to go along with the board games, cards, and miniatures.