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Post by Admin Pete on Aug 5, 2016 12:28:30 GMT -5
Do you have a local game store that you patronize, then please post and tell us about it. If they have an online presence, please share the links with us. I will go first: The Guardtower at 3600 Trabue Rd, Columbus, OH 43204, USA. This is the largest store locally and one of the two that I have personally been too. I don't visit often maybe a couple of times a year. It is about a 40 minute drive minimum from my home as it is not on a main road and not near an interstate. They have game rooms and currently have from 1-4 games running each day, 6 days a week, plus the tournaments on Fridays. They have currently each week 12 distinct games that run every week and every Friday they have tournaments that run from 7PM to Midnight. Ravenstone Games & Hobbies 1675 Karl Court Columbus, OH 43229. (The link to other pages is hidden up in the left hand corner of the front page and you may have to hunt to find it, I did) The calendar shows only a Star Wars game running once per week with nothing else showing as regularly scheduled. Shame because it is such a cool name for an RPG store. The neighborhood is not as safe as it used to be and I believe the worst of these first three. I suspect that if it has not already gone out of business, it may be very close to doing so. The Soldiery, Inc. 4256 N. High St. Columbus, Ohio 43214. I have not been to this store myself. It is located behind the excellent Laughing Ogre comic book shop. I only recently found it that it was located behind the comic shop.  Per there one page website they also have about the same number of games running as The Guardtower and also tournaments on Fridays. It says they have 12 gaming tables. Hobbyland North 206 Graceland Blvd Columbus, OH 43214. This is a small hobby store (not really a game store) and it does not have a game room, it is the other of the two that I have personally been too. Back in 1975, several of us made a road trip up from Athens to visit it. They opened back in 1953 and it is where I bought my first copy of OD&D. They are open 7 days a week. They have a Facebook page and an eBay store, they are a hobby store that just happens to have a few RPGs for sale. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2016 13:22:27 GMT -5
I've been to both the Soldiery AND the Guardtower ... (I think the Soldiery is more old school) ... Hey, do you remember the Drowsy Dragon?
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Post by Admin Pete on Aug 5, 2016 13:52:53 GMT -5
I've been to both the Soldiery AND the Guardtower ... (I think the Soldiery is more old school) ... Hey, do you remember the Drowsy Dragon? No, sorry not familiar with the Drowsy Dragon. Man that is a great name for a game store or a tavern or something else. Sorry I missed the place. |
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Post by Necromancer on Aug 5, 2016 15:18:09 GMT -5
Oh, how I wish there was a local game store where I live... There's been a couple of small ones in the past, but it must be more than a decade the last one closed down. Now the nearest one is situated in a neighbouring town, about 45 minutes by train from here. I try to go there a couple of times a year, and I never return empty-handed, for some reason...
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Post by Admin Pete on Aug 5, 2016 15:41:39 GMT -5
Oh, how I wish there was a local game store where I live... There's been a couple of small ones in the past, but it must be more than a decade the last one closed down. Now the nearest one is situated in a neighbouring town, about 45 minutes by train from here. I try to go there a couple of times a year, and I never return empty-handed, for some reason... I feel for you, buying over the internet is all well and good, but there is something about holding it in your hands and looking at it that cannot be beat. How large of a town do you live in? |
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Post by Necromancer on Aug 5, 2016 15:53:49 GMT -5
Oh, how I wish there was a local game store where I live... There's been a couple of small ones in the past, but it must be more than a decade the last one closed down. Now the nearest one is situated in a neighbouring town, about 45 minutes by train from here. I try to go there a couple of times a year, and I never return empty-handed, for some reason... I feel for you, buying over the internet is all well and good, but there is something about holding it in your hands and looking at it that cannot be beat. How large of a town do you live in? Roughly 130,000 inhabitants in the town where I live. And I totally agree with you - the internet is all well and good, I can find a lot of stuff there, often for a good price too. But there certainly is something special going into a shop and actually look at and hold the items - no matter if it's games, books or records. |
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Post by Admin Pete on Aug 5, 2016 16:14:04 GMT -5
I feel for you, buying over the internet is all well and good, but there is something about holding it in your hands and looking at it that cannot be beat. How large of a town do you live in? Roughly 130,000 inhabitants in the town where I live. And I totally agree with you - the internet is all well and good, I can find a lot of stuff there, often for a good price too. But there certainly is something special going into a shop and actually look at and hold the items - no matter if it's games, books or records. I would think that would be large enough to support a game store, hopefully someone with a better business plan will open one. A dozen gaming tables and reasonably priced fountain drinks and snacks could make more sometimes than the games and if they run tournaments that would add on. |
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Post by scottanderson on Aug 5, 2016 20:59:51 GMT -5
Oh, nice. Rivendell Books and Games in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. It's a library and game store. They have a great selection of board games, a moderate to good selection of RPG books, a great selection of pewter and plastic minis from many genres, all the accessories you could want, and they do a great job supporting Magic: the Gathering with affordable and frequent tournaments and friendly events. The proprietor Rob is a pretty normal fellow with excellent customer service skills and excellent business skills. He also loves what he does. He and some of his friends are even working on their own fantasy-themed game line that just had a nice successful Kickstart. I also had the opportunity to meet Frank Mentzer there earlier this year when Frank was in town for a convention. (Excellent guy, excellent experience.) If you happen to be in between Providence RI and Boston, please make the trip to Rivendell and stell them I sent you. I'm not sure whether that would be a plus or a minus, but I'd be interested to find out. |
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Post by Admin Pete on Aug 6, 2016 6:14:06 GMT -5
I've been to both the Soldiery AND the Guardtower ... (I think the Soldiery is more old school) ... Hey, do you remember the Drowsy Dragon? Will you tell us more about the Drowsy Dragon? I will have to visit the Soldiery and give it a looksee. |
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Post by Admin Pete on Aug 6, 2016 6:19:48 GMT -5
Oh, nice. Rivendell Books and Games in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. It's a library and game store. They have a great selection of board games, a moderate to good selection of RPG books, a great selection of pewter and plastic minis from many genres, all the accessories you could want, and they do a great job supporting Magic: the Gathering with affordable and frequent tournaments and friendly events. The proprietor Rob is a pretty normal fellow with excellent customer service skills and excellent business skills. He also loves what he does. He and some of his friends are even working on their own fantasy-themed game line that just had a nice successful Kickstart. I also had the opportunity to meet Frank Mentzer there earlier this year when Frank was in town for a convention. (Excellent guy, excellent experience.) If you happen to be in between Providence RI and Boston, please make the trip to Rivendell and stell them I sent you. I'm not sure whether that would be a plus or a minus, but I'd be interested to find out. I checked out the link, that looks like a happening place. Do you have a link to the kickstarter, even though it is closed I would like to take a look at it and maybe blog about it. |
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Post by LouGoncey on Aug 13, 2016 23:46:51 GMT -5
TOP DECK GAMES in Haddon Heights, NJ. The website for the biz is CARD TITANS -- if you are into Magic the Gathering you probably heard of it. This is his brick and mortar location. Tons of Magic, very small rpg section, a metric buttload of miniatures and board games. Cool place to play...
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Post by makofan on Aug 14, 2016 21:48:30 GMT -5
J&J Cards & Collectibles Superstore www.jjcards.com/shop/230 Weber St. N. Waterloo, Ont. N2J 3H4 Canada 519-725-0443 Great boardgame/wargame/eurogame store. Also has miniatures and lots of Pathfinder. I buy my dice there |
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Post by hengest on Sept 10, 2016 12:15:50 GMT -5
Atomic Empire at 3400 Westgate Dr #14B, Durham, NC 27707 (full disclosure: I know the owners and used to work with one of them). I am not super social but this place is spacious and actually welcoming. You see regulars doing their thing, as well as non-gamer types looking for a gift or something. Very comfortable atmosphere. Lots of tourneys and stuff, more for things like Magic but generally an RPG crowd as well, I think. I no longer live in that area, but thought I would mention it.
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Per there one page website they also have about the same number of games running as The Guardtower and also tournaments on Fridays. It says they have 12 gaming tables.
