Game Stores in Silver Spring, MD?

[The_Universe]

Do any of you work on the Hill, by the way? I do, so just curious.

Nope - I'm currently a consultant for the state department, and I start a new job with the actual federal government (different agency) in august immediately after Gen Con.

 

[The_Universe]

When The Universe and I first moved to the area, we went to go check out the store... it was - in a word - disgusting.

As we walked in, it stunk of mildew and old food. A quick look around revealed HEAPS of garbage (pizza boxes, a milk container, soda cans, etc) behind the counter.

The shelves bent under the weight of the books - which, while I would at times consider it a good thing - it was not there. Many of the shelves were rotting slightly due to the moisture in the air.

The lone worker in the store was - quite possibly - the most vile man I've ever seen (and smelled) in real life. He had open, weird, pussy wounds on his arm and neck - he also appeared to have stopped showering several weeks ago (the smell confirmed this notion).

Now - despite how disgusting the store was - I thought maybe the service would be good. I couldn't be more wrong! We waited 45 minutes to check out while the gross man dug around in the garbage to find his credit card machine. By the time he found it - I thought I was going to vomit the smell had gotten so bad!

And then - when I thought things couldn't get any worse - a man walks in. He is looking for a game for his son who is about to turn 10. "What a great opportunity to make a sale!" I think to myself. Eyeing the shelves, I see many board games, chess sets, and minis games that I would gladly buy for any 10 year old.

The gross man's response is, "We don't have anything for that age group. You should go somewhere else."

Now - I can tolerate almost anything for good product. But I cannot tolerate disgusting smells, rotting shelves, or week old food in combination with service so horrible.

The store had a large selection of books, true. But I would never consider going there again.

Don't forget the broken patio furniture heaped in one corner of the store! And the horrid organization!

It was THE stereotypical disgusting gamer encounter.

 

[elrobey]

thanks for the story about the Compleat Strategist. I can definitely picture that happening there, though I haven't experienced it myself.

Good luck with your new game and your new home. I'd be interested in joining if I had any time to spare, but I don't. (As it is, I have a hard time keeping up with a single PBM campaign.) And anyway my friends tell me I'm an acquired taste .... ;-)

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

Don't forget the broken patio furniture heaped in one corner of the store! And the horrid organization!

It was THE stereotypical disgusting gamer encounter.

I don't know if I'd say "stereotypical" so much as I would "ultimate".

Worst game store experience ever.

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

thanks for the story about the Compleat Strategist. I can definitely picture that happening there, though I haven't experienced it myself.

Good luck with your new game and your new home. I'd be interested in joining if I had any time to spare, but I don't. (As it is, I have a hard time keeping up with a single PBM campaign.) And anyway my friends tell me I'm an acquired taste .... ;-)

*grin* Working on the hill can be especially stressful and time consuming!

Thanks for the input and well-wishes, we really appreciate it!

 

[diaglo]

The Games Workshop is at "Arundel Mills" (not Ann Arundel Mall), which is up by BWI airport off the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. In the same mall there is a discount book store (I believe it's called Books-A-Million) that carries some RPG publications, mostly WOTC, often at markdown prices. There also used to be a WOTC store just a few doors down from the book store -- you could pay top dollar at the WOTC store or, for the same book, pay 10-30% less at the book store. And WOTC wonders why their stores didn't sell product. Sheesh!

Welcome to the neighborhood!

my elderly parents still live in the neighborhood. Severn, MD.

diaglo "who remembers when BWI was called Friendship Airport" Ooi

 

[Templeton580]

*

 

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

Right now we travel the 30-45 minutes to the Game Parlor in Woodbridge about once a month - the prospect of having several stores in that same distance is almost too much to handle!!

 

[Corathon]

Game Parlor is, IMO, the best game store in the area, all around. I usually visit the one in Chantilly, VA. Dream Wizards is still worth a visit. And there is also
Games and Comics... and Stuff Games and Comics... and Stuff in Glen Burnie.
Many other game stores have come and gone. Games Workshop in College Park is long gone. There is a Hobby Works in Laurel Mall, but its mostly a train/model car/model plane etc store. They have an annual "spring cleaning" sale which is worth checking out. It lasts several weeks, with a progressively greater discount each week.
I've never been to Other Realms. Looks like I'll have to take a trip to Gaithersberg one of these days.

 

[Troll Wizard]

Don't forget to try the local comic and used bookstores. The Herndon (Va) Comic shop carries a rather selection of RPGs and WOTC minis boxes, besides their regular comics and superhero dolls.

There is also a hobby chain called "Hobby Rider's Shop"?, that carries RPG and Warhammer products, besides their electric trains, boy scout, and model car merchandise. They have a shop in Sterling, Va. I believe they were expanding out from West Virginia.

One of the better used book stores that sold RPG books was the "Hole in the Wall" in Falls Church, just down the road from the Compleat Strategist. Not sure if they are still there, its probably been 15 years since I was last there.