The pieces of Brian and Sandy Woodruff’s business fit together naturally — a bit of nostalgia here and a whole bunch of old-fashioned entertainment there. As owners of Puzzles Plus, which the Beavercreek couple opened in 1995, this mom-and-pop duo provides a diverse clientele of brainteaser connoisseurs with a collection of thousands of jigsaw puzzles and specialty games.

“Our customers run the gamut,” Sandy says. “We have real puzzle nuts, as well as those who did puzzles as a kid and had simply forgotten how fun they can be.”

The couple happened upon a store devoted to puzzles while vacationing in New Zealand, and thought the idea of such an establishment would work perfectly back home.

The emporium is a treasure trove of old and new. Visitors are invited to rediscover the jigsaw puzzles they knew in their youth (airplanes, signs of the zodiac and nostalgic scenes of America in the early 20th century are big sellers), as well as try their hand at 3-D globes and pyramid-shaped jigsaws –– complete with advanced roll-up storage systems. Sandy’s
favorites –– ones with bright colors and “totally weird-shaped pieces” — are also hugely popular.

Although their store’s contents are undeniably fun, the Woodruffs, both former teachers, are also advocates of working puzzles as a way to stay sharp. “Research indicates that puzzles can play a role in this,” Sandy explains. “Which is why we also [stock] ones that are easier on the eyes of older customers.”

To see the collection on the Web, visit puzzlesplus.net

Puzzles Plus
1273B N. Fairfield Rd., Beavercreek 45432, 937/320-1679