College sweethearts share love of board games through Johnson County cafés
.jpg "Madeline and Chase Davis opened their Cardboard Corner Cafe in Overland Park five years ago. They opened their Lenexa location in 2024.")
Brilliant business ideas don’t always start with elaborate spreadsheets.
Sometimes all it takes is enjoying time with friends.
So were the beginnings of Cardboard Corner Café, a game-playing business with locations in Overland Park and Lenexa that is owned by Madeline and Chase Davis.
The Davises met while students at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri. Chase got a degree in computer science in 2016. Madeline earned degrees in musical theater and studio arts in 2017.
Married in 2016, the couple share is a love of games and inviting people over to their home to play games.
“We became the host spot,” Chase Davis said. “We fell in love having our friends over.”
Their gatherings launched the idea of starting a business that would offer just that: a place to play board games.
Davis was working for a software company, and his wife did both graphic design work and taught at a local theater for children when they began working on the business.
At the time, the couple was focusing on opening the business in the Northland, where they lived.
But, in the process, the funding fell away, Davis said.
Then an inquiry came from TableTop Game & Hobby, a longtime Overland Park business that sells all sorts of non-electronic games, puzzles, gaming accessories and hobby supplies.
Davis said TableTop owners said they liked the idea the Davises were pursuing and asked if they would be interested in opening their concept next to the TableTop store on Metcalf. The idea would be TableTop would sell many of the games people could play in the Davises’ business.
“They thought it would be a good way for the business to expand what was being offered after being there for 30 years,” Davis said.
.jpg "unnamed (12).jpg")
Madeline Davis went to work on refining the idea, and the couple was ready to launch at the beginning of 2020. Then, the pandemic hit and the idea for Cardboard Corner Café hit pause again.
“But it gave us more time to revisit the plan, and we got a better layout,” Davis said.
Cardboard Corner Café opened at 9240 Metcalf Ave. in early 2021. There is an open door that connects Cardboard Corner Café to TableTop Games & Hobby.
Davis said there are four pillars to Cardboard Corner Café’s business. They offer places for board games; role-playing games, such as Dungeons and Dragons; miniature war games such as Warhammer; and miniature painting for game objects and accessories.
For example, one recent night, the room between Cardboard Corner Café and TableTop was set up for Warhammer, where enthusiasts collect, build, and paint miniatures, and fight strategic tabletop battles.
It’s a great place for these enthusiasts to not only play the game they love but meet new people, said Larson Wiley. Wiley is a community ambassador for Cardboard Corner Cafe. He helps with any questions or concerns patrons might have while playing.
“We attract all sorts of people,” Wiley said of the War Hammer game nights. “This is a great way to meet new people all the time.”
Davis admits the idea of having this kind of business in this day and age might be considered unique.
After all, there are no video games and no television screens inside the store.
“I think there is something human about that,” Davis said. “We require human interaction.”
There is a huge board game library, but patrons can bring their own.
There is no limit to how long a group can be playing at the tables, which vary in size to seat from two to 10 players at a time.
“It’s first-come, first-serve,” Davis said. “One of the coolest things is there are people at any given time who range from 0 to 90 years old all playing together.”
Regular groups are welcomed as well as newbies.
“If you want to play a certain game, we welcome you in and we can match you up with a partner. If you are interested, we can teach you,” Davis said.
The concept was strong enough that the Davises opened a second location in 2024 in the Lenexa Public Market, 8750 Penrose Lane, Lenexa.
“The two locations are pretty different,” Davis said.
“People come to Overland Park because they like the games and there’s food and drink,” He said. “At Lenexa, people go there for the food and now there’s games.
“I think board games is a great avenue for connecting in person,” Davis said. “It gives you a sense of community.”
