General Manager

Rowhaven is building a premium tabletop "third place" in Upper Northwest DC - a space where people gather around games to connect, play thoughtfully, and belong. We are seeking a General Manager who is excited to help create that environment from the ground up, from staffing and events to retail operations and community culture. This is not a traditional retail management role. It is an opportunity to build culture, shape community, and run a well-curated, well-operated gaming lounge and retail space that honors the player, elevates the genre, and welcomes the newcomer. The right candidate will care as much about how the room feels as how the numbers look.

The General Manager is accountable for the full day-to-day operation of Rowhaven.

Responsibilities include:

• Hiring, training, and leading staff
• Building and executing an events calendar that drives recurring play
• Managing retail inventory, merchandising, and vendor relationships
• Maintaining a clean, safe, and well-run physical space
• Overseeing POS, cash handling, payroll coordination, and monthly reporting
• Creating and sustaining a consistent, welcoming in-store culture aligned with Rowhaven values

You will operate within an agreed annual budget and have clear visibility into performance.

• Core operating systems are built, stable, and consistently executed
• Events and membership programs drive repeat attendance
• Financial reporting is disciplined and accurate
• Staff performance reflects Rowhaven values
• The space develops a reputation as a calm, premium, welcoming place to play

You are an experienced retail or hospitality operator who understands that culture and operations are inseparable. You have led teams, managed inventory, owned a P&L, and built systems that keep a space running smoothly. You are comfortable being accountable for results.

You also understand tabletop gaming - not just as a product category, but as a lived culture. You know the difference between a casual board game night and a committed campaign. You respect organized play, but you do not run chaos. You value community, but you are not allergic to discipline.

You are calm under pressure. You can resolve interpersonal friction without escalating it. You care about presentation, cleanliness, and tone. You believe that high standards create a more welcoming space.

You are comfortable being held accountable to clear metrics and clear standards. You prefer clarity over ambiguity and ownership over excuse-making.

You are as attentive to margins and reporting as you are to how the room feels at 7:30 pm on a Thursday.

You will not just manage operations; you will be the steward of these five values:

• HONOR the player: Respect the human behind the character sheet.
• ASSIST the story: Insanity happens. We handle the unexpected with grace, incorporating chaos into the story when needed.
• VIBE check: Read the room. Match the energy of the sanctuary.
• ELEVATE the genre: Raise the standard. Hygiene, manners, and class are part of the uniform.
• NURTURE the new: Welcome the rookie. We grow the community by inviting people in.

• 3+ years of management experience in retail, hospitality, or a comparable customer-facing business
• Direct responsibility for hiring, training, and performance management
• Experience owning or materially contributing to a P&L
• Demonstrated ability to build and execute recurring programming or events
• Experience managing inventory and vendor relationships
• Comfort with POS systems, reporting tools, and basic financial controls

Preferred but not required:

• Direct experience in tabletop gaming retail or organized play environments
• Experience opening or relaunching a physical retail location
• Familiarity with membership or subscription-based or AirB&B-style business models
• Proficiency with Shopify POS app and its third-party ecosystem
• Experience executing local marketing initiatives, including email campaigns, community partnerships, and social media content and postings

• Full-time, on-site in Upper Northwest DC
• Evenings and weekends required
• Reports to the Ownership Group, with full operational authority within approved budgets

Base salary in the $65,000 - $75,000 range, commensurate with experience.

Performance bonus of $5,000 - $10,000 annually, tied to clear financial and operational targets.

This role offers meaningful ownership of outcomes, autonomy in execution, and the opportunity to build something lasting from the ground up.

Rowhaven is not a high-volume TCG grinder shop. We are not buying and selling singles. We are not running chaotic open tables without structure. We are building something intentional.

If you are excited to create a space that feels curated, steady, and genuinely welcoming - and you want real ownership of how it runs - we should talk.

To apply, please submit a resume and a brief cover letter describing a time you built, stabilized, or improved a customer-facing operation.

All individuals being hired to work for TCG must submit to, and successfully pass, a pre-employment background investigation prior to reporting for their first day of work. The pre-employment background investigation will include verification of employment and education, as well as, a criminal and DMV check.

Additional documentation and background checks will also be required for positions that require clearance from the Federal government.