Local Game Store Tour

[grodog]

Whoa!: I didn't know Allied Hobbies was still around. They used to have a store in the Echelon Mall, but it folded years ago, and I never knew about their other stores, I guess. (Although didn't they used to have one in The Gallery??).

 

[localjester]

Will be moving to the Philadelphia area shortly, anyone have some recommendations for FLGSs out that way? I have spent may a night at All Fun and Games and must concur with the previous poster, that place rocks!!! Thanks

Oops, just noticed someone else asked about Philly. Would like to hear suggestions though.

 

[HandofMystra]

Whoa!: I didn't know Allied Hobbies was still around. They used to have a store in the Echelon Mall, but it folded years ago, and I never knew about their other stores, I guess. (Although didn't they used to have one in The Gallery??).

Allied is around but has moved twice and in in a tiny store in strip mall. IF there are more than two tables playing, we spill over to the adjacent Subway. Redcap's has more room (and just expanded - based on income from MtG).
@local jester - what pert of Philly?

 

[Remus Lupin]

Makes me sad to hear the Gamer's Realm has fallen into such a state. That was my more or less weekly hang out when I lived in the area.

 

[DM_Jeff]

Makes me sad to hear the Gamer's Realm has fallen into such a state. That was my more or less weekly hang out when I lived in the area.

** casts thread ressurection **

Then you are going to love to hear this.

Central New Jersey.
Hamilton Square.
Rt 33.

The former manager of the Gamer's Realm (back when it was great) has opened up a new hobby and gaming shop!

It's called Family Fun Hobbies and it's looking to shape up to be an incredible place. It already has a nice healthy stock of all 4e products, a sampling of stuff from yesteryear for the nostalgic, and plenty of Pathfinder core rulebooks in stock (with the ability to special order anything within a very short period of time. Hobbies and toys of all sorts also abound and there's a nice big gaming area too.

Family Fun Hobbies, LLC.

 

[grodog]

Excellent news, thanks Jeff!

 

[darjr]

This thread inspired me to take my own tour.

Recently learning that Reveal lives nearby I invited him along. He posted Tony and Dave's FLGS Tour about it.

The Game Shoppe, the first stop. I was looking forward to introducing him to Norm, the proprietor. It turned out I didn't need to, they were old gaming buddies who had fallen out of touch. What a small world. The store is clean and comfortable with a large playing area and a growing selection of RPG's. It's an all around game store, from Euro board games to Warhammer 40k to D&D and BRP. Most of the stores have a similar selection. The staff are bright and friendly and big gaming enthusiasts. I game there a lot. They are hosting a free rpg day event this very weekend. I think thier focus is on wargames and board games, but they are growing into RPG's more and more.

Ground Zero Bellevue is a venerable old game shop. I've probably spent more time gaming in that store than anywhere else. I grew up gaming there, in fact. Years ago they used to be right close to where 'The Game Shoppe' is now and I started gaming at that location in the early 80's. There used to be a balcony in back where the gaming was, now long since cordoned off, what I would do to run a game up there just one more time. The store is full of hidden secrets and gems, as an example, In a nondescript box stuffed high on a shelf is a collection of lead mini's and ancient dice, dice filled in with crayon. A D&D game from way back, just set aside waiting for when those kids, all grown up, come back and finally finish off that dragon. I love that store. You'll never get an unbiased opinion about it from me. I game there a bunch too.

Ground Zero Omaha the Bellevue store's sister store, was next. Right under a tatoo parlor and a pizza joint. Is there anything more cliche? It's a great store run by huge rpg enthusiasts with a large gaming area. It caters to regular gamers, right down to the lockers on the back wall. Don't worry though, they are very inviting to new folks. They are hosting free rpg day and a local con's game day this Saturday. I game there when I can.

Dragons Lair Omaha is one of the oldest stores in Omaha. It really shows in the deep collection of rpgs available. They really have quite a lot, stuff I thought I'd never see in a store. I sometimes wonder how they can do it. The gaming area seems to be always busy, even if a bit small. It's distance from where I lived as a kid meant it was always a kind of myth to me. A far off place of treasure that I would plunder, some day. It's been at it's current location, I think, since it opened in 1975.

Next was Krypton Comics. They moved and I lost track of them. Reveal showed me where they were. To me they were always a comic shop with games a distant second, no RPG's. So I was shocked to discover a shelf of RPGS. Mostly D&D with one or two exceptions, still, it's a start, and it counts. I think they might be hosting free rpg day, you should check before going. They did have a very small gaming area, there were gamers there rolling dice, Mechwarrior clix I think.

Dragons Lair Millard followed. It's like a modern, shiny new version of it's parent store. A little smaller, with a smaller collection of RPG's, and a game area that somehow seems bigger. The employees seem to work both stores, and I sometimes wonder if there isn't some secret portal in back between the two.

And last, but not least is Coliseum Gaming. It's a neat little place with a gaming area covering over half the store. They have a bit of everything, from card games, to board games, to rpgs, to mini games. I seem to run into somebody else I know that works there every time I go in. Folks I had no idea worked there. I'm still mulling over that one. Will I walk in one time and find myself behind the counter?

There are two other stores that we didn't visit. Capes in Benson and Bit Kingdom in Ralston. We couldn't find Bit Kingdom, though I have since, and we didn't really have time to go to Capes. There are also a few other stores that have recently closed doors. Ten Penny in Bellvue, Anarchy comics in the old market, and Phantac off of 108th and Q. Unfortunately I never ever visited Anarchy comics.

Wow this was a while ago!
I was at the Bellevue store and wanted to post photos of the growing RPG section.

 

[Grendel_Khan]

The Compleat Strategist in King of Prussia is well worth the effort of locating -- they are probably the best store in the area in terms of what they have in stock in the store. I used to make the trip out there every 2 or 3 months for just that reason.

But if we are talking about South Jersey, another store well worth checking out is Ye Olde Hobby Store, which is now located in Cinnaminson across Route 130 from the Acme. They have a D&D 4E game every Friday evening, other RPGs on Saturdays, and a variety of war games the rest of the week. For people who live in or near Philadelphia, it is a much shorter drive than any of the other game stores mentioned so far in this thread.

I used to work in the NYC locations of the Strategist! Management didn't necessarily put the F in FLGS, but the staff were the real deal, and you truly could not beat the selection.