Founder, Justin Riordan as Detetive Sam Spade
The rain didn’t fall that Tuesday at the Metropolist vendor fair, but the mystery sure did. The Spade and Archer team didn’t just set up a booth—they built a world. A slice of 1941, straight out of The Maltese Falcon, where the scent of intrigue hung thick in the air, and sharp-eyed sleuths prowled for clues.
The office of Sam Spade—furnished down to the last dusty file and dented desk lamp—wasn’t just a set; it was a portal. And behind that desk sat a hard-nosed private eye with a pencil-thin tie and a sharper wit—none other than Justin Riordan, playing the part of Spade himself. The look was complete, right down to the ever-present Lucky Strike dangling from his lips. More than a few gumshoes chuckled and asked if they could snag a cigarette of their own. It was all in the details, and the details made this game a knockout.
Sam Spade with Christina Castillo of Ensemble
But this wasn’t just any game—it was a high-stakes scavenger hunt. To crack the case, participants had to track down four key items: an evidence bag, a magnifying glass, a pencil, and a top-secret notepad. The city was crawling with suspects—err, vendors—but only the sharpest detectives pieced it all together.
The reward? A chance to post a snapshot with Sam Spade himself and claim a special prize—a 20% discount on any full conventional home staging installation in 2025.
Winner, Jennifer Suemnicht with Compass and Sam Spade himself.
When the smoke cleared, two gumshoes stood above the rest: Christina Castillo of Ensemble and Jennifer Suemnicht with Compass. They cracked the case, played it smooth, and walked away winners. But the real prize? The buzz, the fun, the break from the ordinary in a sea of vendor booths.
The verdict? A roaring success. Spade and Archer didn’t just show up; they stole the scene. And if this is any indication of the future, well, let’s just say the game’s still afoot.