Checkmate at the Village

Checkmate at the Village Chess Shop
Posted on 05 April 2010
Spencer A. Freeman

Located in the heart of Greenwhich Village, steps from Washington Square Park, is the Village Chess Shop — a quaint, cozy place where, like in Cheers, everybody knows your name if you’re a regular. The shop has been around since the early ’70s and has many customers that have frequented the shop for almost as long.

From the exterior, the shop appears to sell only a modest collection of both antique and modern style chess sets. However, upon entering, one can’t help but notice that more than half the space is dedicated to rickety two-person tables, lined side by side for visitors to play.

Now that spring is here, most city-dwellers (New Yorkers and tourists alike) will trek to Washington Square Park to observe and play pick-up chess games while enjoying the perfect mid-60 degree weather. However, if your skills aren’t quite up to par to be seen in public, or if sitting outside in the blazing sun isn’t worth risking a sunburn, the Village Chess Shop is open to newbies as well as chess aficionados.

There is a catch, however. Though small, there is an hourly fee to both watch and play chess game in the shop. No worries, nothing that will break the bank (unlike many things in the city). For less than $3 per hour, it’s well worth the chump change to exercise the brain!

The Village Chess Shop
230 Thompson St.
New York, NY 10012

Hours of Operation:
Open every day 11 a.m. – midnight