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Hunter Pence goes full nerd, opens coffee, comics and games store

San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence isn’t shy about his nerdy tendencies. Take one look at his Instagram page and you’ll see Pence loves coffee, enjoys both board and video games and reads comics.

Well, Pence has now found a way to combine all those interests into one magical place. Pence, along with his wife Alexis, will open Coral Sword: Coffee, Comics & Games in Houston. It’s a one-stop shop that encapsulates everything Pence loves to do when he’s not playing baseball.

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“Coffee and gaming are two of my favorite off the field activities,” Pence said in a statement announcing the business. “I’m most excited about creating a space that combines the two. Incorporating new media into the coffee shop is an exciting way for me to bring a piece of San Francisco to Houston that keeps me feeling connected.”

Pence grew up in Fort Worth, spent his first five seasons with the Houston Astros and spends his offseasons there.

Hunter Pence and his wife, Alexis, are coffee aficionados. (Coral Sword)
Hunter Pence and his wife, Alexis, are coffee aficionados. (Coral Sword)

The whole thing seems pretty interactive. Game developers are expected to be on hand to teach customers how to play their latest creations. The store also promises to help those looking to get into podcasting or streaming. There will also be an area guests can rent out to host tournaments or other events. Oh, yeah, and they can do all that while enjoying some coffee and tea.

Pence may be the big name, but he’ll have help from some experts on the venture. His wife, Alexis, is a popular YouTube personality who is familiar with many of the concepts the store will offer. On top of that, the two will be working with Ming Chen, who stars on AMC’s “Comic Book Men.” They’ll be joined by coffee experts David Buehrer and Sanford Bledsoe III.

It doesn’t seem like your typical athlete business venture where the player is barely involved. Based on the expertise of the partners and the subject matter, Pence seems pretty invested here.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise, as Pence is pretty serious about his nerdery. We’re talking about a guy who got engaged at Disney World just days after visiting Harry Potter World.

Coral Sword is set to open in September. The Giants will still be playing, so Pence may have to wait a bit before he visits. Given his passion for everything the store promises, we’re guessing he’ll make up for that lost time during the offseason.

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik