Lock & Key Adventurer’s Guild, located on the corner of Second Street and Broadway in Veneta, is a small game store offering a large selection of board games, card games, tabletop role-playing games and everything in-between.
The store contains popular titles such as Dungeons and Dragons, Warhammer, Magic: The Gathering, and Pokémon. Lock & Key also contains many more popular board games and card games.
Additionally, it carries accessories for games, such as card sleeves and card playmats, miniatures, paints and tools, and many colorful dice sets for role-playing games.
“We are carrying just about every major title of board game … outside of your standard fare of things you can get at Walmart, like American classics Monopoly and Scrabble,” Lock & Key co-owner Eric Smith said. “And, if we don’t carry it, we can special order it.”
Lock & Key lets customers try out any game in the store before buying it. For $5, the store provides everything needed to play and enjoy the game.
“Some people may not have the time. They may not have the money and they don’t realize they can just come here, and for a $5 cover, play whatever games we have,” Smith said.
Currently, the store has three role-playing campaigns, but Lock & Key is looking to add more.
“We always have room for more role-playing groups,” Smith said. “It might cost you $5 to play on a regular basis, but everything is provided. There’s nothing you would need to have that kind of experience.”
Lock & Key shares building space with a coffee shop and arcade called A Link to the Past. A Link to the Past offers baked goods, coffee such as lattes, frappes and mochas, and soft-serve ice cream with a variety of toppings and flavors. The store also includes a small section of arcade games.
While Lock & Key and A Link to the Past are separate businesses, they plan to team up for certain occasions.
“We’ll certainly work with them on holidays and try to do stuff with their business as well,” Smith said. “It’s mutually beneficial.”
Lock & Key makes an effort to get to know customers and their interests.
“With the knowledge base and with the smaller community, we can be more of a boutique shop,” Smith said. “That’s kind of our flex, to really just be there for the customer … make it so that someone can just come in and be at their local space.”
Ultimately, Lock & Key wants people to come see what the store is all about.
“We can give you the tools and provide the base for you to take your adventures and have fun with your friends,” Smith said.
Lock & Key and A Link to the Past are located at 88186 Second St. in Veneta, on the corner with Broadway.
Lock & Key is open every day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
A Link to the Past is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information, visit Lock & Key’s website at lockandkeyguild.com. For more information about A Link to the Past, visit its website at alinktothepastveneta.com.
