Welcome to Board Game Barrister, our local game store in southeast Wisconsin!
We've been locally owned and operated since 2005, when Gordon opened the first shop in Milwaukee. Why did he choose the name? Well, he left a career in law to follow his dream of owning a game store. British lawyers are "barristers," and it really just rolls off the tongue, right? (And if you call us "barista" instead, our feelings won't be hurt, but don't expect a latte while you browse.)
Since then, we've been lucky to find a team of incredible and passionate folks who love sharing their knowledge and expertise in our handful of storefronts. We consider it our mission to bring people together to connect at the game table—from newcomers to the hobby to those who have been gaming for decades, we're proud to be the place where everyone feels welcome and gets to discover something new.
Being local to Milwaukee means we're lucky enough to have been a part of the Milwaukee community for 20 years, and we try our best to give back. We pack up our games for amazing local events like Discovery World's Sci-Fi Family Day; we make dozens of annual donations to local charities and organizations; and we support amazing local groups like the Tosa West High School Theater Department and the Wisconsin Jigsaw Puzzle Association!
We also team up with our neighboring local businesses to bring our games to the beloved hangouts in our community. Keep an eye out for our Mini Game Shelves in cafes and bars all over town!
And in recent years, this online storefront has become a place where we can offer a sense of community to folks who may not have a local shop of their own. Here you'll find hundreds of fun and informative videos from our YouTube channel, plus insights and favorites from our amazing team!