The Royal Card Club, a new social card club, is set to open at 104 S. Broadway in Downtown Brownwood, Texas, offering a legal, safe, and vibrant space for poker enthusiasts. Operating on a membership model, the club allows players to enjoy live card games without competing against the “house,” distinguishing it from casinos or illegal card rooms. Members pay a modest “seat fee” to cover operational costs, employee wages, and member benefits, ensuring a community-focused experience.

Unlike games of chance, poker is a skill-based competition where players test their wits against each other. Brownwood residents have long enjoyed poker, with many traveling out of town—and out of state—to play legally, taking their spending with them. The Royal Card Club aims to keep that money local while attracting players from across Texas and beyond. “We’re local poker players tired of traveling for a game we can legally play here,” said co-owner Steven McCrane. “We want to make Brownwood a destination for poker lovers.”

Founded by four Brownwood/Early area locals—Steven McCrane, Kim and Robert Clark, and Michael Bunker—the club reflects deep community ties. McCrane, whose family runs Shaw’s Marketplace and downtown businesses like Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, has long championed downtown revitalization. The Clarks, of KANAR RV Sales in Early, are active in the Early Chamber of Commerce and local charities. Bunker, a USA Today bestselling author and Brownwood News columnist, has penned nearly 100 articles supporting the area’s growth.

The Royal Card Club is already injecting vitality into Downtown Brownwood, investing over $100,000 in local businesses and craftsmen and forming partnerships with spots like Pioneer Taphouse, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, and The Barton Team Realty. With poker players known for traveling to great venues, the club anticipates drawing crowds who will eat, shop, and stay in downtown, boosting the local economy by hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. “We’re thrilled to be part of Brownwood’s resurgence,” said Bunker. “This is about community, fun, and prosperity.”

For more information, contact The Royal Card Club at 104 S. Broadway, Brownwood, TX 76801. 325-800-1103