By Grace Huffstetler, OMAHA, Neb. – Café Monster is a local game and card store on 84th and Center in Omaha that recently added a coffee shop. They sell games, cards, figures, and other niche items in the front, while the back offers a gaming room and a coffee shop with a peaceful sitting area.
While the store itself has been around for two years, the coffee shop was opened last October. Having coffee within a game store was part of the original plan. But co-owner and store manager, Patrick Holm, says building space was their biggest hurdle.
“When we originally had conversations about opening a shop, we wanted to do obviously the café at the same time. Things just didn’t work out previously for the space.” Says Holm.
The café was originally planned to be built within a month’s time. However, due to a contractor’s error, the space was not up to code and had to be redone entirely. It ended up being a $13,000 project that took 8 months to complete. Holm said they paid off the remodel by pulling a trading card that was worth the exact amount.
Whether you’re stopping in for a quick browse, or you’re setting up a game with your friends, the Cafe Monster coffee shop is a welcome addition – here to fulfill any cravings to get your game on. They pride themselves in providing a welcoming environment, quality drinks and tasty food to match the season and events. The baristas, such as Arin, are encouraged to create drinks inspired by pop culture, games or monsters to match the aesthetic of Café Monster.
“If you have an idea for a drink, like we can try it out and we can maybe put it on the menu,” Arin says. “So, it’s encouraged to be creative and try new things.”
They offer tons of other caffeine related beverages such as teas, matcha, and energy drinks. One of their current seasonal drinks is the Kitsune drink: a cherry vanilla milk drink with matcha foam on top.
With the success of the cafe, there’s still plans for expansion. Holm is passionate about offering lots of options to customers, and says they wish to expand to a bigger space so they can enact on opportunities.
“Why not give people like, 20 options? Why not let them have sodas, why not let them have energy drinks, Monsters – just give them everything.”
Café Monster regularly posts on their Facebook and Instagrams on new drinks, new stock and gaming events for people to come and see.
The seasonal menu at the coffee shop counter, features drinks themed around Valentine’s Day
A café table overlooking the coffee shop bar, featuring one of their most popular drinks: the Nosferatu, a cherry white mocha
