Creatorpult Launches Crowdfunding Effort to Save Downtown Game Store for Young Adults

Creatorpult, 38 Emerson St., Haverhill. (Courtesy photograph.)

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A downtown Haverhill business owner is turning to crowdfunding to save an adjacent game store and keep local tournaments going for teens and young adults.

Chris White, founder of Creatorpult, has shared his Emerson Street storefront with the Queen’s Gambit since last year, and hopes to restock the outlet as his friend Russ Morgridge exits the business.

“We decided that we’re going to try to keep the game store going, put a little more focus on events—gaming events, people coming in, playing games, that kind of thing—and shrink the retail a little bit so that there isn’t quite so much overhead in stock and that kind of stuff,” he explained.

Creatorpult specializes in 3D rendering, printing and engravings as well as repair for 3D printers for individuals and small businesses. White, a Haverhill resident, told WHAV taking on a retail, gaming component wasn’t planned, but he hopes the public will help make a grand reopening possible. While some of Queen’s Gambit’s stock of remains, he is looking for help paying the $6,000 cost of restocking such popular offerings as Warhammer 40k and Magic: The Gathering.

“The Kickstarter that we put was to try to find local support for helping us get that initial stock because we weren’t expecting to start a store,” he said.

Donors at Kickstarter.com can earn a spot on the play space wall for $5; $100 worth of 3D prints, $25; 10% discount on purchases for the next six months, $50; 10% discount on purchases for a year, $100; 10% discount forever, $250; and $1,000 in 3D prints, $500.

In the meantime, the 38 Emerson St. store still attracts young people who might not have other places to make friends and socialize in a safe space.

“We are staying open for events, for people to come and play games. The retail section won’t be available until we restock and get that all set up,” he added.

If the store is lucky enough to meet its stretch goals from $9,000 to $15,000, Dungeons & Dragons products, more Warhammer 40k and Battletech could be added. According to the crowdfunding site, the next phase will be renovations next month and full stocking by March.

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