The Gamer’s Haven owners relocating store to West Central, opening New Orleans-inspired restaurant

A historic building in the West Central neighborhood will soon be home to a barbershop, tabletop gaming store and a New Orleans-inspired restaurant. 

The Gamer’s Haven co-owners Chris Skinner and Robert Kelley are relocating the Spokane Valley tabletop gaming store to the historic two-story building at 1403 W. Broadway Ave., which is undergoing renovations to also house Vieux Carre, a Cajun and Creole restaurant specializing in “all things New Orleans.”

After visiting retail game stores with an attached restaurant in Portland and Seattle, Skinner and Kelley were inspired to bring the business model to Spokane. Skinner and Melissa Cheney purchased the West Central building last year with the intention of moving The Gamer’s Haven from a leased space in Spokane Valley and pairing it with Mythos, a pub-style restaurant, but decided the concept was “too niche,” Skinner said. 

They partnered with Korri McElfresh to create a Cajun and Creole concept for the restaurant, in part, because such cuisine is lacking in the region. The New Orleans-themed concept also paired well with the historic building and the game shop, said McElfresh, who is overseeing restaurant operations. 

Vieux Carre’s menu will feature dishes such as jambalaya, etouffee, dirty rice, oysters, po’boys, hush puppies and beignets, McElfresh said. 

“We want to do crawfish, but we’re not sure how we are going to feature that yet,” McElfresh said.

Vieux Carre, French for “old square,” also refers to the French Quarter in New Orleans and a 1930s classic cocktail, which will be among nearly a dozen signature drinks served at the new restaurant. 

Although Vieux Carre and the Gamer’s Haven will be in separate spaces in the historic building, there will be synergy between the two businesses.

The Gamer’s Haven patrons will be able to order food from Vieux Carre and bring it upstairs to a second-floor gaming area, McElfresh said. 

Coeur d’Alene-based Mavericks Mens Hair  also is opening a second location in the building, Skinner said. 

The building, built in 1903, housed a nursing home, women’s shelter and, most recently, law offices, Skinner said, adding he’s in the process of nominating the building for the National Register of Historic Places. 

Coeur d’Alene-based Lake Shore Decor is designing the project, which McElfresh said is anticipated to be complete later this summer, pending inspections. 

“We are very hopeful —  if everything goes correctly — we will be able to get open at the end of August,” she said.