Rogers-Lowell Area News

Elevate Gaming Company Brings Community Together

Lisa Sommer never would have imagined owning a gaming company.

The co-Owner of Elevate Gaming Company, located at 4305 S. Pleasant Crossing Blvd., Ste. 4 in Rogers, admits she hardly knew anything about video games before opening the business. She prefers to focus on the people that play them.

“I believe that by connecting with people and forming relationships with them, you can easily figure out which types of entertainment they would enjoy and point them in the direction of others who are interested in the same thing,” she said. “That’s how strong friendships and lifelong bonds are built.”

Elevate Gaming is not a typical retail chain gaming store. They are a grassroots, family owned business that believes in impacting the community and working with other Northwest Arkansas businesses and schools. Lisa and her husband, David, host a variety of events from bachelor parties to business functions and everything in between. Not only do they buy, sell and trade video games, but they are also an entertainment destination that features tournaments, leagues, merchandise, accessories, board games and other fun activities in their gaming den. They welcome groups that enjoy bowling, going to the arcade or going go-kart racing to plan an outing at Elevate Gaming for their next adventure.

Accessibility for everyone is a major emphasis for the company. The store’s clientele consists of all ages and backgrounds. Teenagers come to the store straight from school to play and act out their characters with young professionals just getting off work. It is a safe haven and an escape from the struggles and routines of daily life.

“I’ve had parents say to me, ‘my kid is not a good reader’, but sometimes the reason they aren’t reading well is because it is something that they aren’t interested in,” Sommer said. “They come here and can read an entire 80-page book about different characters from a game they are interested in. So they do get to learn while having fun and interacting with others.”

For the Sommer family, the company is more than just a business – it is their life. Lisa and David have two boys, Simon and Eli. Both boys enjoy playing games and helping in the store, and Simon refuses to let the fact that he has autism define him.

To learn more about Elevate Gaming, visit them on the RogersLowell.com Business Directory or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/ElevateGamingNWA.