games stores in San Diego CA, Charleson SC, and Baltimore MD?

[Glyfair]

Baltimore has no real game stores anymore

Which is a real shame given that Baltimore used to be one of the gaming hot spots. Avalon Hill was based there. Origins was based there for several years(alternating with AtlanticCon), until Origins was priced out of the area (or so I hear). Even before that Origins was held in Towson one year.

Fortunately, here in Delaware (about an hour's ride up I-95) we still have a vibrant gaming community.

 

[grodog]

Thanks for the replies and info, folks---and keep 'em coming

Treefore: will do! You're hitting GC again this year, right?

dragonlordofpoondari: I'll shoot you an email tomorrow, am off to bed at the moment...

Glyfair---

I'll wave as I drive north to NJ where we'll be spending our time after my sister's graduation

 

[grodog]

Any further suggestions?

 

[ColonelHardisson]

These days, Game Empire (http://www.gameempire.com/) is no longer in Fashion Valley; it has relocated to Clairemont.
It is a comprehensive gaming store with impressive stock, and games/tourneys going on in the ajoining room every night. Gamer's paradise, really. Best of all, it is open consistently and most of the day.

I'll second this praise for Game Empire. It's pretty much the best game shop I've been to, and I've been to quite a few over the years. The two most impressive things about it: the game room with quite a few tables for both minis and RPGs, and the fact that they are open late, especially Fridays and Saturdays, when they close at 11 PM.

 

[atomn]

Towson gaming store

There is a gaming store, Legends (http://www.legendscomics.com), within walking distance from Towson U., north on York Rd. I don't think it has much older, out-of-print stuff but it might.

 

[Birmy]

I was just in Baltimore this last week and went to Legends in Towson with a friend, and I was really disappointed. About a third of the store's a comic shop, a third of it is games books, and the rest is tables for gaming (mostly card games, I would assume based on the layout). It was dirty and disorganized; the kind of hole-in-the-wall comic/game store that I thought had disappeared years ago (full disclosure: I work at a comic shop in the Midwest). It looked like it would be fine if you gamed there regularly and got some use out of all the table space but as a store it was pretty lackluster.

 

[dragonlordofpoondari]

I'll second this praise for Game Empire. It's pretty much the best game shop I've been to, and I've been to quite a few over the years. The two most impressive things about it: the game room with quite a few tables for both minis and RPGs, and the fact that they are open late, especially Fridays and Saturdays, when they close at 11 PM.

ColonelHardisson ... we have something in common. I moved to San Diego from the Cleveland area 4.5 years ago (after graduating from Oberlin). You, too, should shoot me an email sometime. I'm just starting a Ptolus campaign if you're looking for a game.

 

[jezter6]

I was just in Baltimore this last week and went to Legends in Towson with a friend, and I was really disappointed. About a third of the store's a comic shop, a third of it is games books, and the rest is tables for gaming (mostly card games, I would assume based on the layout). It was dirty and disorganized; the kind of hole-in-the-wall comic/game store that I thought had disappeared years ago (full disclosure: I work at a comic shop in the Midwest). It looked like it would be fine if you gamed there regularly and got some use out of all the table space but as a store it was pretty lackluster.

QFT...in case someone in management over there is listening.

The d20 (or Tabletop RPG Book) section is really about 1 bookcase. I was terribly dissapointed by the selection...but it makes money on the things that make money...WH, Minis, and card games.

Now, Games, Comics & Stuff is just downright awesome. Their 'old book' inventory is firkin HUGE. Plus, everyone there seems friendly like they're gamers that want to help other gamers (instead of a bunch of nerd-a-licious fatbeards who snub their nose at everyone).

Even if you can't make it to GWHQ, there's a GW retail store up in the White Marsh Town Center area (a place called 'The Avenue' right behind the mall). There's also a microbrewery in the same area, so it's not all bad.

Sadly, the B-more market sucks. There are about 20 hole in the wall comic shops, that I honestly can't believe stay in business with their location and (lack of) clientele in the shops.

The only thing I think we have is a furry-con, which makes me just want to leave town.

 

[Thunderfoot]

Yeah, even Balticon is pretty much done and gone....

When the industry moved west to Seattle, that pretty much sucked the life out of the indie stuff around the area it seems. If it wasn't for Chessex and GW, I'm pretty sure the Balto area would be a pretty desolate wasteland. Luckily there are enough fans to keep living, at least for now.

 

[atomn]

Sorry for the off topic repy but Jezter & Thunderfoot check out this thread. Maybe our powers combined could revitalize Baltimore's gaming culture? http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?p=3493578#post3493578