Play, win, and give back: Fresno’s Kuppa Joy’s game night is here

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Kuppa Joy’s Tower District location is inviting the community to a fun night of board games, prizes and competitive scrabble for a good cause on March 22.

Kuppa Joy’s Laurel Hess says she’s responsible for bringing forward the idea of the game night, and it all stems from her love of playing Scrabble, especially with regulars at the coffee shop.

“I am a big fan of Scrabble,” Hess said. “Moving here to Fresno, I’ve met a lot of people who actually really enjoy playing Scrabble, even if it was like their first time ever playing.”

Hess says the Scrabble tournament was also inspired in part by Kuppa Joy’s chess tournament held at their Grand Cafe location.

“They did that specifically at Grand, because there’s a lot of customers and employees at the Grand location that like to play chess,” Hess said. “[Also] to raise money for our Cup of Cares, which is our nonprofit here at Kuppa Joy.”

According to Kuppa Cares’ website, the nonprofit has a weekly outreach team that serves coffee and treats at the Poverello House in Fresno. 

“Our nonprofit volunteers weekly at the Poverello House,” Hess said. “Bringing coffee and pastries and chatting and hanging out with people there.

Hess says the Scrabble tournament will incorporate a buy-in fee of $15 to play competitively and $5 to play casually and all the proceeds will benefit the nonprofit.

“We’re just a coffee shop to a lot of people,” Hess said. “But we want to love people and I think that’s really where our nonprofit comes into play.”

Hess says Kuppa Joy’s Tower location has a community with a lot of love for one another and for playing Scrabble.

“Ram is actually a regular here. He’s a friend of mine as well,” Hess said. “He bought a vintage Scrabble board a while back and I started playing. I think that kind of like, really helped build our friendship.”

Hess says many regulars followed suit playing Scrabble with their boards at the shop. She hopes the event invites new community members to not only become regulars but to also share in the joy of playing together.

“I think this is the shop where a board game night kind of just makes sense,” Hess said. “Feel free to bring your own board games to come and, just hang out with us.”

To enter for a chance to participate in the tournament and win a grand prize yet to be determined, follow the link here.