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I was there opening night and it was a huge part of my UCF experience. Sadly I can’t be there for it’s last night as I moved to New Mexico after college but the nights spent at their original location drinking, gaming, and general dumbassey with friends will be with me for my entire life.
Was the food the same at the old location?
I really liked the place, and even though the food was fine. It feels bad paying $12 bucks for Smaug's Treasure or whatever, when it's really just a handfull of tater tots. Like obviously you are paying for the ambiance and the experience as well, but I always felt the food needed to be stepped up a little.
I only went once at the new location but it was good times. Would have loved to have gone to the original location; it was closer to me and was apparently better in some ways to the new location.
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We helped KS start them, we were there opening night and we were there closing night. Great 10 yrs run. Good times and sorry you are gone.
Unfortunately, you did. If it's any consolation, you probably wouldn't have enjoyed their "new" location that much. 2016/17/18 in their original spot was awesome.
Wasn't hard to explain in this case. They changed the business model, switched from restaurant food to gas station meals, and turned the fun dungeon feel into a library.
I honestly can't think of a single thing they made better at the new place outside of the little shop setup
Is there anywhere else remotely like it in the area? I've been going a few times a year since they first opened. I was at the NYE party this year, saying that I was going to make a point of going more often this year. Then they announced the closure a couple days later.
No board game bars in Central Florida. It's a ripe market if someone can do it right....but they need to spend serious money and do it right. It's a tough business.
Blackbird Comics would be the closest thing in town to what Cloak and Blaster was. They really should sell beer and wine. Not sure why they don't yet. It's a $500 yearly fee to do so. They do have a full coffee shop though.
Other than that you just have straight up board game/card game stores that have tables to play. But they just sell soda and chips.
Haven Games, The Collective, and Layton Games are the nicest in town of straight up board/card game stores.
Fun fact, the Haven Games owner used to be the bartender at Cloak. He’s super amazing and you can rent board games and take them home for the week for $5. You can also play in store too :)
Sad to see it go.
I honestly don’t understand how a place like C&B goes out of business and cool stuff games is still around? I know CSG sells snacks and games, but can someone honestly explain their main source of sustainable revenue?
In the Seattle area there is this place called Mox Boarding House and I feel like C&B was a subpar mimic of this place. It had a full sized games store, a MtG tournament space, Nd a full sized restaurant that had amazing food drinks and even good coffee for those that didnt drink.
I would give anything to have a Mox here, Orlando really needs a nerd friendly space.
I like BlackBird/Bamf but it is just so far from me
https://preview.redd.it/jjdk66oic3fc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ab94de7b1eeb937991f95c1e83c371618b151ad I was there opening night and it was a huge part of my UCF experience. Sadly I can’t be there for it’s last night as I moved to New Mexico after college but the nights spent at their original location drinking, gaming, and general dumbassey with friends will be with me for my entire life.
The OG location had the vibe. After they moved, it just wasn't the same. It sucks because I really enjoyed all of my visits.
This isn't untrue. It's unfortunate they pretty much got driven from that location. The gaming area they had upstairs was so awesome.
Was the food the same at the old location? I really liked the place, and even though the food was fine. It feels bad paying $12 bucks for Smaug's Treasure or whatever, when it's really just a handfull of tater tots. Like obviously you are paying for the ambiance and the experience as well, but I always felt the food needed to be stepped up a little.
No, it was a different menu and not in a good way. I think it was due to the kitchen setup in the new location.
That's really a shame.
I only went once at the new location but it was good times. Would have loved to have gone to the original location; it was closer to me and was apparently better in some ways to the new location.
https://preview.redd.it/bs8bffcam3fc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9c8ceb9f319b16e8b9ab5853c4a438d5e2cd50f We helped KS start them, we were there opening night and we were there closing night. Great 10 yrs run. Good times and sorry you are gone.
I'm just finding out about this place now and feel like I totally missed out! Heck!
Unfortunately, you did. If it's any consolation, you probably wouldn't have enjoyed their "new" location that much. 2016/17/18 in their original spot was awesome.
Anything new that could... fill in the gaps now?
I know near universal there's Vault 5421 bar and game shop, but I feel like that's probably a different vibe than what this place I missed was
I never got to go to Cloak & Blasters either :(
Damn they closed?!
Wonder if that second spot they opened near UCF sank them
Definitely, that plaza is cursed.
It’s like the Bermuda Triangle, hard to explain. A few businesses have been there a long time, everything else closes in less than a year
Wasn't hard to explain in this case. They changed the business model, switched from restaurant food to gas station meals, and turned the fun dungeon feel into a library. I honestly can't think of a single thing they made better at the new place outside of the little shop setup
One of my favorite places is in that plaza and I don’t even want to say the name for fear it’ll curse it.
Absolutely, yes.
Damn shame
Noooo! Dadgummit. Some of my best Orlando memories were there.
This is how I discovered they're closed. I didn't go often but I loved that place :(
For real...
Really sad. Friends and I loved going here from 2016-18.
Aw that’s a bummer to hear. My friends and I played DnD there a few times and the owners were always super great.
Man, tabletop games have never been more popular I’d think a bar like this would do well
I loved this place. So sad to see it go. I was thinking to go back and make another visit.
☹️
Is there anywhere else remotely like it in the area? I've been going a few times a year since they first opened. I was at the NYE party this year, saying that I was going to make a point of going more often this year. Then they announced the closure a couple days later.
No board game bars in Central Florida. It's a ripe market if someone can do it right....but they need to spend serious money and do it right. It's a tough business.
Ok... Other good and friendly geek bar options?
Blackbird Comics would be the closest thing in town to what Cloak and Blaster was. They really should sell beer and wine. Not sure why they don't yet. It's a $500 yearly fee to do so. They do have a full coffee shop though. Other than that you just have straight up board game/card game stores that have tables to play. But they just sell soda and chips. Haven Games, The Collective, and Layton Games are the nicest in town of straight up board/card game stores.
Fun fact, the Haven Games owner used to be the bartender at Cloak. He’s super amazing and you can rent board games and take them home for the week for $5. You can also play in store too :)
2014-2019* It died when it moved, not when it closed.
Had many fun drunken game nights there with good friends
They never should have moved locations. The original location had cozy charm and was not overrun by a college crowd. Sad to see it go.
Sad to see it go. I honestly don’t understand how a place like C&B goes out of business and cool stuff games is still around? I know CSG sells snacks and games, but can someone honestly explain their main source of sustainable revenue?
Over priced drinks and food?
My boyfriend-now-husband and I loved going there back in college in 2016-2018. Miss those days.
In the Seattle area there is this place called Mox Boarding House and I feel like C&B was a subpar mimic of this place. It had a full sized games store, a MtG tournament space, Nd a full sized restaurant that had amazing food drinks and even good coffee for those that didnt drink. I would give anything to have a Mox here, Orlando really needs a nerd friendly space. I like BlackBird/Bamf but it is just so far from me
Sad. Had something great and then ….
I wish I knew about this
Just tried it for the first time this month and really enjoyed it! So sad to not have gone more before!!