Spieledeluxe

Spieledeluxe on Queensberry Street is a cornucopia of board games, card games, puzzles, hobby products and novelty items. On the floor-to-ceiling shelves, game enthusiasts and novices are bound to find something irresistible for their next game night.

“I've always been into games, puzzles, riddles and jokes,” laughs self-confessed games fanatic, Kelly. “I got my start in the toy and hobby industry as a buyer for other shops.”

In 2014 Kelly made the decision to open a store of her own that would specialise in games like her favourite board game, a Euro-style farming game called Agricola. Kelly chose North Melbourne for her venture, being a local to the area.

The name came easily, combining the German word for ‘game’ or ‘play’ with a positive English adjective, deluxe.

“The first game I ever sold was Risk, which is probably one of the most famous strategy games,” reminisces Kelly. “The majority of my stock is European strategy games, mostly coming out of Germany, because that’s where my personal interest lies. There are over 1600 different products inside this small space. Having my own shop means I have free rein to do whatever I want!”

Kelly travels to the famous Essen Toy Fair every year to ensure that she is stocking the most in-demand games and the winner of the Spiel des Jahres award that is handed out to the best board games each year. The majority of the games are new, with a small percentage of products being high-quality secondhand and collectible games.

Spieledeluxe’s reputation for importing and stocking hard-to-find games means that as well as being a destination shop, it has a strong online sales following.

In the past, the store hosted roleplaying Wednesday nights with games like Dungeons and Dragons. After a hiatus over the past few years, Kelly is hoping to bring events back again.

“I like being around games and the people that come here to play,” smiles Kelly. “I also enjoy introducing people to a game they haven't heard of before. My years of experience and knowledge means that I’m always able to help people to find the perfect game for them.”

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna Encio