Business Concept: The Game's The Thing

Spent the past week at Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio.  Had a fantastic time- played in two LARPs, one game of NSDM (National Strategic Decision Making), several 7th Sea games- really enjoyable.

In the dealer room, they were giving a demonstration of the game Mage Wars.  The game looks fantastic and fun- but it's also $60, and I'm not sure when I would play the game.  So that got me thinking...

Here's my idea:  A coffeehouse or bar (the bar would make more money, but also has a much higher overhead) that also doubles as a gaming room.  The place would have several tables and chairs, and a stocked bookshelf of every board and card game that would be interesting to players.

Anyone can come in and buy a drink or sit down.  If they want to borrow a game, they have to pay a fee.  I'm thinking $10 allows anyone to borrow any game for the day- but you can buy a subscription- say, $100 for a full year.  During that year, you can come down to the bar, borrow a game, play it with friends while drinking, and return the game afterwards.

The bar owner makes his money, not just from the drinks, but from the subscription fees.  And people would pay a once a year fee to stop by and use any game in the system.  So a group of four could stop by once a week and play Mage Wars one week, Cards Against Humanity the next week, 7 Wonders the third...

I've seen businesses like this for computer games.  But computers require a much higher level of expenses, compared to board games.

It gives people (a) a place to play and (b) a library of games.  It gives a bar a good theme that isn't being used, and I don't think the upkeep would be that much.

This might be a workable business concept.