Being a busy college student can be very stressful, not to mention the added homesickness that comes with it.  

Luckily, AU is located in the heart of Ashland, just a short walk into the downtown district.  

Downtown Ashland is home to a multitude of businesses, many of which have become a sort of retreat for AU students. 

Masterminds, more specifically, has been working on becoming a go-to spot for those who enjoy puzzles, games, escape rooms and more.  

For just $5, visitors are given unlimited access to the business’s ever-growing game library 

“We have over 670 board games, we have two escape rooms, a puzzle wall, and we run regular DND nights,” Lead Manager, Amanda Caito said. 

Masterminds has been able to draw in people of all age groups, providing fun for everyone.  

“Just a good place for people to come and hangout whether its teenagers, families, adults, we have all kinds of groups here,” Caito said.  

Since opening in 2017, the old brick walls of Masterminds have been hidden by a collection of board games and pinball machines. 

While many efforts have gone into the success of Masterminds, Caito credits most of the positive outcomes to the Ashland community.  

“I love the community aspect of it and that’s my favorite thing, is seeing people have fun and helping them learn games and things that they might not normally have done,” explained Caito. 

AU students have also been a large piece of the puzzle when it comes to connecting with the community.  

Lately, Masterminds has been working closely with CAB, planning events and providing a way for students to spend their evenings away from home.  

On Thursday, Feb. 13, the two teams will be working together to create a fun environment for all who are joining.  

Located at 33 Main St, escape room challenges will be taking place along with Mastermind’s famous milkshakes and other food options.  

Not only has Masterminds been expanding their connections around Ashland, but they are also growing around Ohio. 

“We’re actually opening a second location in Barberton, and they’re about where Ashland Main St. was three years ago, and we’re very excited to see where that takes it,” Caito said.  

If you’re interested in challenging your brain, you can visit them in person to play games and try out the escape rooms, or you can book with them online at https://ashlandmasterminds.com/