Image: Jenny Sawatzky / Jenny and Alfred Sawatzky (left) are pictured with friends inside Serena Stay & Play Café, which will open soon at 107-7491 Vedder Road in Sardis.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

New Chilliwack business

Serene Stay & Play Café to open soon in Chilliwack, offering a unique venue for community connection

Nov 6, 2025 | 10:02 AM

CHILLIWACK — A unique kind of café experience featuring board games, billiards, coffee and light meals in a convenient community hub is set to open soon in Chilliwack.

Jenny Sawatzky tells Fraser Valley Today that after months of construction and interior renovations, Serene Stay & Play Café is preparing to open its doors in late November or early December at 107-7491 Vedder Road in Sardis near Staples.

The venue is designed to be a welcoming space for families and game enthusiasts alike. Unlike traditional early-morning coffee shops, Serene Stay & Play Cafe is tailored to those looking for relaxation, connection, or just recreation. Guests can enjoy a rich menu of coffee and light meals while exploring a library of over 300 board games, with plans to expand the collection in the months ahead once they open.

Image: Jenny Sawatzky / The interior of Serene Stay & Play Café in Sardis, under construction.

The 4,000-square-foot space will seat just over 90 guests and feature:

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• Two private rentable meeting rooms (up to 8 people each)
• A rentable events room (up to 30 people)
• A billiards room with two tables (opening January 2026)
• A cozy kids’ play corner

The café also plans to host a wide range of community events — from paint nights and trivia, to crafting weekends, crib club, puzzle contests, crafting weekends and bingo nights.

Image: Jenny Sawatzky

To play board games, customers can pay a daily fee ($7 adults / $5 youth / $3 children), or opt for a monthly pass, punch card, or yearly membership for a lower price. A special yearly membership ($150) offers unlimited access to games, future billiards, and 10 per cent off food for the first 1,000 members — and spots are already filling up.

“I have already sold some and we haven’t even opened!” Sawatzky said.

Popular available games consist of favourites like Ticket to Ride, Catan, Carcassonne, 7 Wonders, Azul and a whole lot more.

Image: Jenny Sawatzky / Interior renovation work inside Serene Stay & Play Café.

Inspired in part by the Boardwalk Café in Abbotsford, Serene Stay & Play Café will introduce its own twist —  beverages and light meals, and a welcoming environment where guests can drop in anytime, even without playing games.

“We are also very different where we will have our full coffee service and light meals menu where people can come and go with no game fees,” she said.

The venue’s planned operating hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed Sundays.

Image: Jenny Sawatzky / The outside of 107-7491 Vedder Road, near First Choice Haircutters.

“We want to create a community where people feel they can connect and belong,” Sawatzky said. “It’s a place for families, friends and anyone who wants to unwind and feel at home. It is also very child friendly with more space than other coffee shops and a little kids play corner.”