Vendor Spotlight: Bret Bement and Play Favorites
When Headwaters was just finding its footing in the Front Royal community, Bret Bement was one of the first people to say welcome and mean it. As a leader in both the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce and Leadshare, Bret has a gift for knowing who needs to meet whom and making sure it happens. He pointed us toward the right events, made the right introductions, and did it all with the kind of genuine warmth that makes you feel like you have been part of the community for years. That is who Bret is, and it is exactly the spirit you will find at Play Favorites (playfavorites.com).
Play Favorites is not your average toy store. Tucked at 441 South Street in Front Royal, Bret and his wife Hannah have built something that defies easy description. Yes, there are rows of board games from beginner to serious gamer level, puzzles, brain teasers, classic and retro favorites, STEM and educational toys, sensory toys, and fidgets. But the shop is also a community gathering place, a creative hub, and a weekly destination for people of all ages who simply want to play together. Hannah, a local biology teacher and artist, adds her own magic to the store through Salamanderings, a line of science themed earrings she creates and sells on site. Every corner of Play Favorites reflects the care and intention that Bret and Hannah bring to everything they do.
The weekly programming alone sets Play Favorites apart. Monday and Friday bring family game nights, free and open to everyone. Tuesday evenings offer free arcade play from 5 to 7pm. Wednesday is Creator Collaboration night, a space for game designers and enthusiasts to connect and workshop ideas. Thursdays go back to the classics, Scrabble, Backgammon, Mahjong, with patient guides ready to teach newcomers. Weekend Dungeons and Dragons groups round out a calendar that keeps the doors open and the community connected all week long. The playroom and arcade are also available for private parties and group bookings, making Play Favorites a natural fit for team building, family celebrations, and any group that wants to reconnect through the simple joy of play.
At Headwaters, we believe that the best retreats restore people to themselves and to each other, and play is one of the most powerful tools for doing exactly that. We are proud to have Play Favorites and Bret Bement as part of the community we are building in the Shenandoah Valley. If you have not visited yet, go. You will not leave empty handed, and you will almost certainly leave smiling.
Play Favorites is open Monday through Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. Find them at 441 South Street, Front Royal, Virginia, or visit playfavorites.com to learn more.
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