The idea for Gamer’s Island was conceived in February 2023 by a trio of friends who loved video competition. The concept is proving successful, as Gamer’s Island has grown into a go-to spot and epic gaming experience for players into PCs, Xbox, PlayStation, VR, and more.
Owned by Maurice Taylor, Darris Ford Jr., Terrell Smart, Tashauna Parker, and Kalonda Cloyd, Gamer’s Island is located in the historic downtown Ferguson area at 248 S. Florissant Rd.
“It was a simple idea,” Taylor said.
“It was a thing where me, Darris, & Terrell were all playing the game on the regular and we started Team St. Louis Gaming and Terrell told Tashauna. So, she asked if we thought we could make a business out of it and we talked amongst ourselves and said “why not give it a shot?”
Parker also talked about the vision her co-owners had for the business.
“When I did talk to Terrell, one of my co-owners about their vision, he basically told us that their vision was to have a spot that we could bring the youth to save their lives,” Parker said.
“Terrell literally told me that gaming can save lives.”
Co-owner Darris Ford Jr. believes the business has flourished.
“Business has actually been good, Ford Jr. said. “It has been a great turnaround for the community, especially for the youth programs that we associate with. So, typically just with the walk-ins, scheduled programming, and birthday parties has been 90% of our success.”
Even though the business has flourished, changing demographics has led to a changing mission.
“When we started Gamer’s Island we had a different demographic we were targeting, but it quickly turned into a hub for our youth,” Parker said.
“So, at first it was a safe gaming environment for the community, but it has turned into a safe hub for our youth to game with like-minded individuals in an inclusive environment.”
Parker also said that they have been rethinking the program. They want to base their program on their actual demographic and not force the issue. So, they are making adjustments to accommodate their faithful clientele.
St. Louis is not alone in the growth of Black gamers, and their pursuit of improved gaming skills.
In February, the first Black History Smashfest was held in Minneapolis, Minn. The Black-only gaming session centered on Super Smash Bros.
About 30 Black gamers out of the top 100 ranked Smash Bros. gamers in Minnesota.
Participant Evan Hands said, “As a Black gamer you have all the same emotions, all the same feelings. You play all the same video games as any other gamer.”
“But then every now and then it’s like, ‘I am Black and I do know that I’m Black and other people know that I’m Black.’
“I am Black. I am a gamer. They can coincide. I don’t have to keep them separate.”
On August 3, the second Black Girl Gamers Online Summit was hosted on RingCentral.
It featured discussions on:
Equity & Access: Moving beyond Diversity 101 conversations to get to the nitty gritty of the industry’s current needs.
Impact & Innovation – Exploring gaming’s influence on mainstream culture and its intersection with non-endemic brands and media.
Culture & Authenticity – Led by Black and POC industry professionals, these panels will deliver nuanced advice and actionable guidance to viewers.
Advocacy & Allyship – Educating allies on effective ways to support underrepresented communities.
As for Gamer’s Island, it isn’t just a safe space for gaming.
It also has school break programs, summer camp breaks, after-school homework jam sessions, and spring break. During any break, groups of kids can show up to a place where they know they’ll find breakfast, lunch, and snacks just to make sure they have a safe haven because many have parents who work during the holiday seasons.
They have workforce programming which helps the kids get jobs. They also have tournament programming which helps those youth who have never been into gaming learn the ropes. That program teaches them how to create a logo, how to stream, and how to create content.
To learn more about Gamer’s Island on instagram- @gamersislandstl; facebook- @gamersislandllc; email- @gamersisland@gmail.com. To book your next event, visit www.gamersislandstl.com or call (314)736-1070.
Devored Horton is The St. Louis American’s Comcast/NBCUniversal WIB fellow
This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Lab fellowship. The Lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.
The post An island paradise for young gamers appeared first on St. Louis American.
