Mason Hans, the owner of Mission: Board Games, finds people are hungry for games that allow them to actually socialize while playing as opposed to staring at a computer screen.
“You learn a lot about people when you compete with them,” Hans said. “It’s the best way to get to know a person, whether competing or puzzle-solving. You get to know a lot about them.”
His new shop at 5606 Johnson Dr. carries 500 board games and game accessories from children’s favorites like “Animal Upon Animal,” a stacking game, through old stand-by’s like Monopoly and Risk, to the latest Star Wars-based board game, “Star Wars: Destiny.”
He said “Star Wars: Destiny” is a hot seller with fans of the series. It was created by Hans’ favorite game designer, Lukas Litzsinger, a University of Missouri grad. It allows players to pit heroes from the original Star Wars like Hans Solo against those in the new round of films such as Kylo Ren.
Hans, a native of Fairway and a 2012 graduate of Bishop Miege High School, said there’s been a renewed interest in board games as people crave real personal interaction.
“A lot of jobs today, people sit in front of a computer and at the end of the day, it’s fun to sit down face-to-face and get that social interaction you don’t have in front of a computer screen.”
Opening the store is the realization of a dream for Hans, and he also thanked his parents for their support, Jason and Julie Hans. He believes downtown Mission is a great location for his shop.
“I felt this are could use a board game store, a place where people could come together and play games,” he said. “I also love working with kids and a lot of the games we have teach critical thinking.”
And if you’re looking for more than a game, Hans’ girlfriend, Angelia Essex also creates drink coasters using art from game boxes. The shop hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
