A new bakery and cafe is coming to Lewis Center, bringing scratch-made baked goods, cafe favourites and a gaming-inspired experience to Dragon’s Lair Games & Fantasy.
Nat20 Bakeshop and Cafe is preparing to open inside Dragon’s Lair at 1222 E. Powell Road in Lewis Center, creating a new food and beverage option for customers visiting the gaming and fantasy retailer.
WhatNow Columbus spoke with Ashley Johnston, the head chef and creative mind behind Nat20, about the upcoming concept, her journey from cottage baker to brick-and-mortar operator, the menu and what customers can expect when the cafe opens.
While Philip Siewert is the owner of the brick-and-mortar location, Johnston described Nat20 as her “brainchild” — the culmination of three years of running the bakery from her home and developing her recipes.
“I’ve been running out of my home as a cottage bakery for the past three years,” Johnston said. “I got started doing custom orders for private customers and had the opportunity to talk with Phil, the owner of Dragon’s Lair Games & Fantasy, working with him over the past four and a half years to collaborate and make this into a brick-and-mortar.”
The partnership grew naturally after Johnston began bringing her baked goods into Dragon’s Lair for customers to enjoy while gaming. Demand eventually grew beyond what she could manage from her home kitchen.
“It just kind of blew up where I couldn’t keep up with the demand of weekly orders,” she said. “It just showed that this could be profitable and a great business opportunity.”
The idea behind Nat20 is closely tied to the gaming community surrounding Dragon’s Lair. Johnston said the goal is to give customers the ability to grab food and refreshments without having to leave the store during gaming sessions.
The name Nat20 also comes directly from the gaming world. In tabletop gaming, a natural 20 is a perfect roll on a 20-sided die, which is reflected in the bakery’s logo.
“In the baking world, it means it’s a perfect bite every time,” Johnston said.
For Johnston , Nat20 is about creating food that combines nostalgia with carefully developed recipes.
She said customers can expect classic baked goods with modern twists, with everything made from scratch rather than using store-bought mixes.
“I would love for my customers to have that experience of almost kind of like a nostalgia feeling,” Johnston said.
The bakery side of the menu will feature cookies, cakes, cupcakes and brownies, with the possibility of artisan breads. Among the returning favourites will be Johnston’s chocolate chip cookies, signature sugar cookies and cinnamon roll cookies.
Johnston said her cookies have become particularly popular among her existing customers, who have continued asking when they would return while she has been preparing for the new location.
On the cafe side, Nat20 will offer a variety of savoury options, including burgers and fries, sandwiches, salads, fruit salads, homemade hummus and grab-and-go items. Weekly specials will also rotate through the menu.
The beverage programme will include coffee drinks, with a focus on options such as cold brew, along with dirty sodas and fresh tea. Johnston is also working with companies on developing a loose-leaf tea blend for the cafe.
Rather than completely changing the menu seasonally, Nat20 will maintain a core menu while introducing rotating specials.
The location inside Dragon’s Lair is intended to make Nat20 part of the larger gaming experience.
Johnston said the businesses have become closely connected with their customer base and community, describing the relationship as “one big happy family.”
The cafe will accommodate approximately 40 to 50 guests, with a walkthrough connecting it to the retail side of Dragon’s Lair. That additional space can accommodate another approximately 64 patrons.
Customers will also be able to order food while gaming. The planned system will allow guests to scan a QR code at their tables, place their orders and continue playing while their food is delivered.
Johnston also added that the concept will provide a women-led presence in the kitchen. Dragon’s Lair is veteran-owned, and she hopes Nat20 will help create a welcoming environment for the diverse community that visits the store.
Nat20 is currently finishing construction and working through the permitting and licensing process.
Ashley is hoping the cafe can be open for events and other activities by the end of September, although the timeline remains dependent on permits and licensing.
A soft opening is also planned, with details to be announced through Nat20’s Facebook, Instagram and Discord communities once a date has been finalised.
The business is not currently hiring, though any future hiring opportunities will be announced through its social media channels.
For Johnston, one of the biggest goals is to bring a distinctive local bakery experience to Lewis Center.
She said she wants her recipes to be balanced rather than overwhelmingly sweet, while still delivering the nostalgic flavours customers associate with homemade baked goods.
“I want to bring a little bit of a new concept for baked goods because I am very passionate about making sure that my recipes are balanced,” Johnston said.
Local sourcing will also be an important part of the concept. Johnston said she enjoys sourcing local ingredients when possible, including using apples from local orchards.
“I don’t want to be the next chain,” she said. “I want to break those stereotypical chains. I want you to have those locally grown ingredients and that experience with my products.”
With its combination of scratch-made baked goods, cafe fare and tabletop gaming, Nat20 Bakeshop and Cafe is preparing to offer Lewis Center customers a place where they can grab a bite, enjoy a drink and stay immersed in the gaming community.
