CHICAGO-“If you wish to play dominoes, that is the place to be. I’ll at all times be posted up at 2558 W. Division St. Any day it’s open, I’m there,” stated Cheo Gomez, chief of Pe Erre dominoes league, which operates out of the Pe Erre Domino Membership in Chicago’s Humboldt Park.
Gomez wasn’t exaggerating. Each Sunday, Pe Erre hosts free dominoes lessons for kids aged 8 to 14 and for adults studying the foundations as nicely. It’s one in all many actions, competitions and group gatherings on the membership. Whether or not serving to the youngsters or adults, Gomez is there together with his vigorous, exuberant self–serving to others within the room and turning interactions into contagious bursts of laughter.
This power set the tone for Pe Erre. Pe Erre isn’t only a dominoes membership, it’s a spot to “Create group, really feel a part of a group and have enjoyable,” in accordance with Miriam Velez-Rivera, co-owner of the membership with husband Roberto Rivera.
Pe Erre opened its doorways in August and since then, folks from Humboldt Park and past have come for occasions and tournaments.
“Whenever you’re right here, it feels such as you’re visiting your tíos [uncles] and tías [aunts],” stated Lizette Torres, the bartender for Pe Erre.
“There’s lastly an area for folks to play dominoes and luxuriate in one another’s firm, and other people like coming. They maintain coming again,” stated Velez-Rivera, as she held again some laughs and motioned to the complete room of gamers.
Frequent guests Derrick Cabrera enjoying dominoes with buddy Angel Flores. (Picture Credit score: Hayley Gregoire)
Pe Erre, the Spanish pronunciation for “PR,” is a membership that focuses on highlighting Puerto Rican tradition by means of dominoes. Roberto Rivera, co-owner of Pe Erre, defined that dominoes is a “staple” in Puerto Rican tradition, so it was necessary to open a dominoes membership in a Puerto Rican neighborhood.
“At dwelling, we play [dominoes] till 3 or 4 o’clock within the morning,” stated Rivera. The Pe Erre co-owner additionally stated that there wasn’t a spot to play dominoes in Humboldt Park.
“Sometimes, folks would play dominoes at church or on the barber store,” Rivera stated. “However we needed to create an area that was solely devoted to dominoes.”
Miriam Velez-Rivera and husband Roberto Rivera met in Puerto Rico over a recreation of dominoes. That shared ardour later led them to open their new enterprise.
Luis Martinez, an architectural designer who helped design the shop, is at the moment working to make the entrance of the enterprise resemble the facade of a typical Puerto Rican home. Presently, the enterprise is one-story, however Martinez has plans so as to add an higher flooring and broaden on one aspect, given the packed tables inside minutes at every occasion.
Entrance of La Casa del Domino (Picture Credit score: Hayley Gregoire)
“Similar to sports activities or music, dominoes is an efficient option to join with folks. It lets you open up, and it’s nice for the elders as a result of it requires loads of mind operate,” Martinez stated.
Martinez and Rivera spoke of the hopes of reaching a big viewers, starting from kids to the elders. They hope that by means of the free lessons supplied to children, a bigger demographic of individuals will come to play.
“We wish to educate the youngsters as a result of our abuelos [grandparents] gained’t stay perpetually. Somebody has to show the subsequent era,” stated Rivera.
Hayley Gregoire is a graduate pupil at Northwestern’s Medill Faculty of Journalism, pursuing a specialization in sports activities media.
Cowl Picture: Children, households and adults collect to be taught the foundations of dominoes. (Picture Credit score: Hayley Gregoire)
