If you’ve passed by the Chess Club storefront in Portland’s Old Town recently, you may have wondered what it sells. A small label in the window gives you a hint — “global magazines.” The store carries hundreds of publications from around the world, with topics ranging from queer periodicals to art and design quarterlies. Owners Andrew Simon and Christy Lai have said that they want the store to serve as a meeting place and conversation starter for people in search of offline connection. Simon and Lai join us to talk about creating physical community in a digital world.
