(WSB photos)

Tiara and Joshua Silas are about to open Fourth Emerald Games in the West Seattle Junction, upstairs from the breezeway, at 4517 California SW. The focus here is on electronic games, for sale (they buy games too), for rent, or to play on site in a lounge where you can reserve a spot – which they nicknamed “Emmies” – for $12/hour.

Tiara explains, “We have PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch installed at each Emmie, loaded with hundreds of games to play per console. People also have the option of renting one of our games from our retail area to try out (included in the price).” The space is new, but the business isn’t: “We initially began as an online store, and got tons of feedback from gamers saying how much they wish we were a physical location, so we had to give the people what they wanted! We really wanted to accommodate the late-night crowd as well.” The hours: 1 pm to 9 pm Tuesdays through Thursdays, 1 pm to 10 pm Fridays and Saturdays, 11 am to 5 pm Sundays, closed Mondays. The name comes from a line in a Sonic the Hedgehog game, and you’ll see it – and Sonic – in this mural by the entrance:

The artist is Carlos Aguilar (@theydrift), who also has a mural downstairs at Rush Hour.

Tiara and Joshua have lived in West Seattle for two years, close to The Junction: “We fell in love with this community and when we started our business, we thought it would be the perfect location for not only proximity but a tight knit community as well. Being surrounded by other business, local restaurants, etc. just seems perfect for us!” This Saturday, July 5, is their grand opening; they’ll have a tournament under way, and are also planning one (Smash Bros.) for West Seattle Summer Fest the following weekend. P.S. Fourth Emerald isn’t a café or bar, but will offer “drinks and snacks.”