Spotlight: Paladins League
Inside of the Paladins League. Photo courtesy of Paladins League
The Paladins League is a gathering place for people of all ages who enjoy tabletop games and who want to play more, together. With a sizeable board game library, a full restaurant, bar, and ice cream parlor, it also hosts parties, events, and creative programs for both kids and adults. As a part of the Geek Week PDX next month, the Paladin’s League will host a special Dungeons & Dragons event on Wednesday, September 10 and also provide space for the creative workshops hosted by Pantheon Arts.
How do you feel Portland shapes or influences your business?
Jess Monsey (below as Jess): My husband and I opened this business, in part, because we wanted to help supercharge the sense of community and creativity in this city. One of the reasons we've set our roots down here is because Portland is still a place where magical things are possible. We love Portland most when its unparalleled sense of imagination, nerdiness, and optimism are on full display!
If you could go back to the beginning, what would you have done differently?
Jess: I was very sheepish about promoting ourselves and asking people to help us get the word out. I still am!
What is your favorite part about owning a small business?
Jess: Greeting, meeting, and serving our guests. Feeling more connected to my neighbors and community is truly life-giving. Seeing our guests enjoy the space in the way we intended is the best feeling ever.
What has been your biggest success to date?
Jess: I'm extremely proud of the Friday Night Dungeons & Dragons Club we've created for 10-14 year olds. We're helping a whole group of kids find their people, develop more social confidence, and unleash their imagination. It's what I wanted when I was their age!
What has been your biggest challenge?
Jess: Achieving the consistent critical mass we need for the business to sustain itself. Getting the word out has been much harder than we thought, and it's never easy getting a brick and mortar business off the ground.
What’s your best advice for someone who wants to start or run their own small business?
Jess: Have a really good, purposeful reason why you want to do it. It's not easy, but if you have something you deeply believe in driving you, it's amazing what kind of reserves you'll be able to tap into to keep you going when things are tough.
