Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebekah Waltmann.
Hi Rebekah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Our family loves board games, so we grew up playing them. Then, when I, Rebekah, lived abroad for over 10 years, I found that board games brought people together, no matter what their backgrounds. When I needed a change, I jokingly told my sister, Hannah, that I had a name for a board game cafe–The 15% Board Game Cafe. She said if I wanted to start a board game cafe, she’d join me as a way to start her dream of running a bakery. And so we started planning for The 15% Board Game Cafe.
The name itself comes from an inside joke with one of my best friends. We joke that we’re 85% the same person, but although the 85% makes us good friends, it’s the 15% that’s different that makes us great friends. Thus the cafe is all about embracing differences while finding similarities.
It took us years to save up (for me to move back to the States), and to eventually find a suitable space, but once we found a space, the community found us. As soon as we had signs up, people already started asking for an opening date, and as soon as we opened our doors, we’ve had amazing people come to us. We’ve been very fortunate with the people who have become regulars at The 15% and even more fortunate with the people who volunteer to help us with the things we’re still figuring out.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been the usual growing pains that come with owning a small business–figuring out what people like, how much we need to make of certain things, navigating distributors vs buying direct, finally hiring, equipment breaking, etc. We’re only in our second year, so we’re noticing more trends with the slow seasons (when it’s sunny) vs busy season. Hannah and I are the main baristas at The 15%, which can also be exhausting, since we don’t get many days off and also need to balance admin with helping people.
We’ve been impressed with The 15% Board Game Cafe , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We’re Tacoma’s only hybrid board game café and coffee shop. The front half of our space functions as a traditional café, perfect for anyone who just wants to enjoy a latte, tea, tea latte (aka a fog) or pastry in a cozy environment. The back half offers a curated library of over 400 games, organized by difficulty and play style to make gaming accessible for everyone.
Since opening in October 2024, we’ve built a wonderful community of regulars who come not just to play, but to belong. We host inclusive, low-pressure events like casual co-operative game nights, casual cribbage, and Dungeons & Dragons for kids — each one fostering teamwork, creativity, and confidence.
We’re proud to support local makers by exclusively selling locally designed games and sourcing ingredients from nearby businesses. We get our coffee from Bluebeard, our tea from Mad Hat, our beef jerky from Mourdrill’s Meats, and most of our alcohol from the area (E9, Logan Brewing, OffSet, Channel Marker, Ilk, Matchless, and Drum Roll Wine). We also display art from local artists (which helps us with decorating and helps them be seen). And because we’re open until 10 p.m., The 15% provides a rare, safe evening space for people to gather and connect without pressure or pretense.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Hannah and I were pretty different growing up. As a middle child, I enjoyed meeting new people, telling stories, and talking in general, but I also enjoyed school, reading, and playing games. Hannah, on the other hand, was more introverted, also enjoying reading, but not always the talking. The socializing and networking part of the cafe has definitely come more easily to me than Hannah.
Pricing:
- $7 (weekday sitting fee–comes with a drink)
- $10 (weekend sitting fee–comes with a drink)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://15percentbgcafe.com
- Instagram: @the15percentbgcafe
