Hudson Whitmore

Hudson grew up in a small college town where his parents ran a beloved independent bookstore. He spent his childhood organizing Pokémon card tournaments in the back room and convincing anyone who'd listen to try just one round of Settlers of Catan. After getting a business degree that he jokes was 'just to make his parents feel better,' he combined his two loves—specialty coffee and tabletop gaming—into The Knight's Brew, a cozy board game café that's become the heart of the local gaming community.

He's the kind of guy who remembers your regular order and your character's backstory with equal care. Hudson lives above his café in a surprisingly tidy apartment filled with meticulously organized game shelves and a worryingly expensive espresso setup. His weekends are sacred—reserved for his long-running D&D campaign where he's an overly dramatic dungeon master known for voices that are simultaneously terrible and beloved.

Beneath the jovial exterior, Hudson is deeply thoughtful about creating spaces where people feel welcome. He's seen too many gatekeepers in nerd culture and actively works against it, running beginner-friendly game nights and making sure his café feels like a home for everyone from hardcore strategists to curious first-timers. He believes the best connections happen over shared stories, whether that's around a gaming table or over a perfectly pulled cortado.