New board game food hall concept pitched to Bloomington council
Colleen Stidle presented "Hearts and Spades," a proposed board game food hall designed to bring Bloomington residents together for screen-free socializing while supporting underrepresented local chefs. The presentation was informational and did not require a council vote.
Hearts and Spades would operate as a food hall where customers can play classic board games while enjoying meals from multiple restaurants in a single venue. According to Stidle, the concept aims to "foster playful screen-free connection across generations" — a response to the growing prevalence of digital entertainment in social spaces.
The business model centers on partnering with six different restaurants, with a deliberate focus on chefs from underrepresented communities in Bloomington. Stidle emphasized that this approach aligns with the city's stated values. "Priority will go to underrepresented chefs in Bloomington to continue to align with the city's vision that when diversity is embraced, the community is strengthened," she said.
The presentation was a pitch rather than a formal proposal requiring council action, meaning no vote took place. Stidle also announced that she will be pitching the concept to Hatch, a local business accelerator, on August 6. This suggests the project is still in early development stages and seeking additional support and resources.
The council's reception of the idea was not detailed in available records, but the fact that Stidle was given time to present indicates at least some level of interest from city leadership in the concept.
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Hearts and Spades Business Proposal Pitch
Colleen Stidle introduced 'Hearts and Spades,' a concept for a board game food hall designed for playful, screen-free social interaction. She described a unique atmosphere with classic games, curated food, and a plan to collaborate with six different restaurants, prioritizing underrepresented chefs in Bloomington to align with the city's vision for diversity and community strengthening. She also mentioned an upcoming pitch event for Hatch on August 6.
Hearts and Spades will be a board game food hall meant for playful screen-free connection across generations.
Priority will go to underrepresented chefs in Bloomington to continue to align with the city's vision that when diversity is embraced, the community is strengthened.
Source document
[0:00] Hi, I'm Colleen Stidle and I give you in
[0:03] Bloomington Hearts and Spades for
[0:05] classic games, curated food, and
[0:08] childhood feels. Hearts and Spades will
[0:10] be a board game food hall meant for
[0:13] playful screen-free connection across
[0:16] generations. In today's world, most game
[0:19] spots don't have food, maybe have a
[0:22] limited menu, or operate out of a
[0:24] brewery with a single lone food truck.
[0:26] That's where Hearts and Spades comes in.
[0:28] Imagine
[0:30] long wooden tables etched in familiar
[0:33] designs like checkers and back gammon
[0:36] laid out in lines where murals pop and
[0:39] oversized dice hang above you. Where
[0:42] ordering food means asking for the
[0:44] settler sliders or the draw to.
[0:48] This will be a place where maybe chess
[0:51] clubs meet after school and millennials
[0:53] like myself play cribage with parents
[0:55] still thriving in their 70s. In terms of
[0:58] the food, I hope to collaborate with six
[1:00] different restaurants to offer distinct
[1:02] cuisines. Priority will go to
[1:05] underrepresented chefs in Bloomington to
[1:08] continue to align with the city's vision
[1:09] that when diversity is embraced, the
[1:12] community is strengthened. I believe we
[1:15] deserve to know more than the feeling of
[1:17] a smooth glass screen. We deserve to
[1:20] know the feeling of tactile scrabble
[1:22] tile in hand and even the shuffle of a
[1:26] deck of cards. On August 6, I will be
[1:29] pitching in the top 10 for Hatch. Come
[1:32] vote for me and let's get the dice
[1:34] rolling.
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