Interactive board games and meaningful conversations bring families, friends and Little Professor Book Center regulars together every Saturday at 5 p.m.
A traditional Saturday evening for several locals and students includes venturing down Court Street for a quick bite to eat or a refreshing drink. Although these nights can be thrilling, some prefer different recreational activities.
Luckily for Athens residents, Little Professor is home to those who enjoy a competitive UNO match or conversational game of Apples to Apples. The bookstore opened in 1974 and sells a plethora of genres, including fantasy, fiction, children’s books and class-required novels for students.
Play Today Co. states the profit for board games in 2023 was around $3.39 billion worldwide, with the U.S. holding the largest portion of sales. A small percentage of these board games can be found at 65 S. Court St., strewn across tables for Athens locals, families and Ohio University students to play or purchase.
Celeste Polsinelli, co-owner of Little Professor, bought the property from the previous owners with her husband in 2018 and said they started offering games with the students and locals in mind.
“We started carrying games I think last year, partially (because) there used to be a game store uptown here that went out of business a few years ago, and we wanted to provide that as easier access for students who may not have cars,” Polsinelli said.
Polsinelli said after hosting Magic the Gathering card trading events, customers expressed interest in board game nights for all age ranges.
“My husband and I bring some of our games from home and then people are also welcome to bring their games that they have,” Polsinelli said.
Little Professor encourages both beginners and regulars to make connections and learn an intriguing new game. Whether an attendee brings their favorite game or arrives empty-handed, the atmosphere is comforting and friendly.
Kyle Wilson, a senior studying chemical engineering, is a member of the campus organization Bobcat Tabletop and participates in the Magic the Gathering card tournaments. Wilson said game nights are the perfect way to unwind after a busy week.
“It is just pretty relaxing,” Wilson said. “People will bring snacks or whatever (and) just hang out. It is usually a good variety of games to choose from.”
Wilson said he prefers strategic games and some of his favorites include Wingspan and Galaxy Trackers.
While some participants attend the game night for fun, others practice for future jobs. Caleb Smiley, a first-year graduate student studying communication media, is pursuing a career in game design and said board games bring people together.
“I think there is something really interesting about the way that games can provide a mechanism for overcoming certain social barriers,” Smiley said.
Smiley said they started hosting game nights in the bottom of Schoonover Center on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and one of their favorites is “Where Should We Begin?” by Esther Perel.
“It kind of works like Apples to Apples or Cards Against Humanity,” Smiley said. “... It is really great at getting to know people, helping facilitate consensual, vulnerable conversations in a nice environment.”
With the closing of Rollerbowl Lanes in 2020 and the Athena Grand in 2025, Polsinelli said Little Professor game nights hope to provide an alternative activity for those on a budget.
“There is just not as many social activities that do not involve drinking or spending a lot of money,” Polsinelli said. “... This is a nice, kind of safe, laid back, casual thing that you can do to have fun on a Saturday.”
The Little Professor doors are always open for families, residents and Bobcats wanting a calm evening with kind individuals and good laughs.
“It feels small and welcoming,” Smiley said. “People seem to take an interest in you and do a very nice job making space for other people who are new (and) may not have been there before.”
