Good FLGS in Portland, OR?
- Thread starter Ruined
- Start date
Arcane Runes Press
First Post
theRuinedOne said:
Bridgetown Hobbies is really good, with a wide selection of games, boardgames, Warhammer and even model cars and such.
It's on Sandy in North Portland, and accessible from both I-5 and I-205.
Patrick Y.
Barendd Nobeard
Explorer
I second the nomination of Bridgetown Hobbies. While visiting Portland 18 months ago I checked the store out. It's quite nice.
If you're just looking for books, go to Powells. Open til 11 p.m. every night, they have quite a large selection (in general), and most major RPG books (including older editions) on the shelf. I think Powells is at 9th & Burnside in downtown Portland. It's quite large, and quite a fun place just to go wandering....
If you're just looking for books, go to Powells. Open til 11 p.m. every night, they have quite a large selection (in general), and most major RPG books (including older editions) on the shelf. I think Powells is at 9th & Burnside in downtown Portland. It's quite large, and quite a fun place just to go wandering....
Delemental
First Post
I will put in my nomination for Ancient Wonders, which is in Tualatin (suburb south of Portland), just off I-5. Good selection, tends to have a lot of older RPG stuff as well as Warhammer, CCGs, some comics, and boardgames. The staff is usually very helpful there.
While Bridgetown is a nice store as well, my experience is that they primarily consider themselves a model shop, and aren't really that familiar with RPGs. I've also had others tell me that they aren't very enthusiastic about their Warhammer product, but that's hearsay. However, the staff is pleasant (not the stereotypical overweight antisocial guy behind the counter).
There's also Rainy Day Games, in Aloha (west of Portland). I've never been there myself, but heard good things.
Generally speaking, although there aren't as many gaming shops in Portland as there used to be a couple of years ago, the ones that are left are pretty good.
While Bridgetown is a nice store as well, my experience is that they primarily consider themselves a model shop, and aren't really that familiar with RPGs. I've also had others tell me that they aren't very enthusiastic about their Warhammer product, but that's hearsay. However, the staff is pleasant (not the stereotypical overweight antisocial guy behind the counter).
There's also Rainy Day Games, in Aloha (west of Portland). I've never been there myself, but heard good things.
Generally speaking, although there aren't as many gaming shops in Portland as there used to be a couple of years ago, the ones that are left are pretty good.
I will also put in a good word for Bridgetown Hobbies, I've been going there for 23 years. They're good people. Good selection, and they'll give you a call when your stuff comes in. Rainy Day Games in Aloha is also fine, but as far as Portland proper, there's really one one good store and that's Bridgetown.
Dragonblade
Adventurer
Bridgetown Hobbies is the best. Located on 33rd and Sandy blvd. Easy access from pretty much everywhere except deep Beaverton or deep Gresham.
I used to live in Gresham but would drive out to Bridgetown Hobbies all the time.
Now, I live in Beaverton and I sometimes go to Rainy Day games in Aloha (near 185th and TV Hwy). But they shrinkwrap some of their games and don't offer a discount. I hate that and so take my business to Bridgetown whenever possible.
Bridgetown offers 10% off all D&D and some d20 products and they don't shrinkwrap anything and have a good selection of both d20 and non-d20 games.
I used to live in Gresham but would drive out to Bridgetown Hobbies all the time.
Now, I live in Beaverton and I sometimes go to Rainy Day games in Aloha (near 185th and TV Hwy). But they shrinkwrap some of their games and don't offer a discount. I hate that and so take my business to Bridgetown whenever possible.
Bridgetown offers 10% off all D&D and some d20 products and they don't shrinkwrap anything and have a good selection of both d20 and non-d20 games.
I absolutely hate Rainy Day Games. I bought a few things there, then one night I went in to pick up the Races of Faerun handbook. Before walking up to the register I perused through it, looking at the art, reading the feats, you know the things any normal person would do before plunking down the cash for a new book.Dragonblade said:
Then the ass behind the counter walked up to me and said, "Its okay to just glance at the books, but this is a store not a library. I've been watching you and it just looks like you're reading it."
I could understand if I had pitched a tent and started reading the thing cover to cover but I had spent less than five minutes flipping through the damn thing! I paused, gave him an incredulous look that hopefully got the point across at what kind of a dumbass he was, set the book down and left. Haven't bought anything there since.
I go to Bridgetown pretty often and check out their Rp stuff.
They do offer 10% of WotC and Games Workshop stuff.
They also have a 30 day return policy but if you are just visiting that probably doesn’t do a lot of good. I used to have a friend that worked there and apparently they do a lot of mail order stuff too.
Their employees are helpful enough and I have given several books a pretty good looking over before deciding not to buy them without complaint.
They have a big selection of dice and carry a pretty extensive range of RPG stuff and mini lines. They do also have lots of models and misc game stuff.
Their is a very nice comic shop about 2 miles east them on Sandy called "Things From Another World" (4133 NE Sandy Blvd ) and they have some RPG stuff and minis, they also of course have Lots of comics and misc. action type figures, manga, and they have an extensive selection of comic and manga statues. very cool place and a Terrific staff! Very friendly and knowledgeable about comics and cartoons and anime.
If you are into Table top war gaming at all, I highly recommend taking a drive across the Columbia River into Vancouver and going to Z-Games.
(2100 Se 164th Ave FISHER'S LANDING) It's just maybe 20 minutes from Downtown Portland to Fishers Landing (Take I-205 North and then get onto Hwy 14 East once you cross the river and then take the 164th St exit and drive up 164th @2-3 miles.)
The folks that run Z games are super! There are some of the best painted minis you will ever see on display there and there is almost always some kind of TTG going on.
They carry some RPG stuff too, not a lot but some. They don't mind special ordering stuff at all though. Although if you are just here for a visit again that is not much use/concern.
Besides Hobby places and especially if you are on Sandy Blvd and If you want so Great food I highly recommend going to :
Michael's Italian Beef & Sausage Co
1111 Se Sandy Blvd PORTLAND, OR 97214-1333
there food is great! They have the best hot beef and sausage sandwiches I have ever had. The guy (Michael) grew up in Chicago iirc and uses family recipes. Absolutely amazing food, they also have chicken and even some vegetarian dishes as well. (it's not a "fancy sit down Italian restaurant, just a great place to eat.) Check it out!
Have a good trip!!
They do offer 10% of WotC and Games Workshop stuff.
They also have a 30 day return policy but if you are just visiting that probably doesn’t do a lot of good. I used to have a friend that worked there and apparently they do a lot of mail order stuff too.
Their employees are helpful enough and I have given several books a pretty good looking over before deciding not to buy them without complaint.
They have a big selection of dice and carry a pretty extensive range of RPG stuff and mini lines. They do also have lots of models and misc game stuff.
Their is a very nice comic shop about 2 miles east them on Sandy called "Things From Another World" (4133 NE Sandy Blvd ) and they have some RPG stuff and minis, they also of course have Lots of comics and misc. action type figures, manga, and they have an extensive selection of comic and manga statues. very cool place and a Terrific staff! Very friendly and knowledgeable about comics and cartoons and anime.
If you are into Table top war gaming at all, I highly recommend taking a drive across the Columbia River into Vancouver and going to Z-Games.
(2100 Se 164th Ave FISHER'S LANDING) It's just maybe 20 minutes from Downtown Portland to Fishers Landing (Take I-205 North and then get onto Hwy 14 East once you cross the river and then take the 164th St exit and drive up 164th @2-3 miles.)
The folks that run Z games are super! There are some of the best painted minis you will ever see on display there and there is almost always some kind of TTG going on.
They carry some RPG stuff too, not a lot but some. They don't mind special ordering stuff at all though. Although if you are just here for a visit again that is not much use/concern.
Besides Hobby places and especially if you are on Sandy Blvd and If you want so Great food I highly recommend going to :
Michael's Italian Beef & Sausage Co
1111 Se Sandy Blvd PORTLAND, OR 97214-1333
there food is great! They have the best hot beef and sausage sandwiches I have ever had. The guy (Michael) grew up in Chicago iirc and uses family recipes. Absolutely amazing food, they also have chicken and even some vegetarian dishes as well. (it's not a "fancy sit down Italian restaurant, just a great place to eat.) Check it out!
Have a good trip!!
Mean Eyed Cat
Explorer
I'll put in another good word for Bridgetown hobbies - great selection.
I've been to Rainy Day games, but wasn't impressed with their selection. And the guy behind the counter kept staring at me giving me a weird vibe.
As with all WOTC stores, the Game Keeper in downtown Portland (the Pioneer Place Mall at 700 Sw 5th Ave) has a very small selection of RPG material. Most of the store is board games.
I will also put in another good word for Powells. As mentioned above, while they do have a small selection of RPG material (some new and some used), they have an enormous amount of books! It is a must stop for anybody visiting Portland. Here are a few comments:
"The store that calls itself the City of Books has been dubbed 'the best bookstore in the English-speaking world' (author Susan Sontag), 'the world's greatest bookstore' (The Seattle Times), 'the mother monster of bookstores' (author Ursula Le Guin), and 'one of the most innovative and creative enterprises in the country' (The Wall Street Journal)."
I've been to Rainy Day games, but wasn't impressed with their selection. And the guy behind the counter kept staring at me giving me a weird vibe.
As with all WOTC stores, the Game Keeper in downtown Portland (the Pioneer Place Mall at 700 Sw 5th Ave) has a very small selection of RPG material. Most of the store is board games.
I will also put in another good word for Powells. As mentioned above, while they do have a small selection of RPG material (some new and some used), they have an enormous amount of books! It is a must stop for anybody visiting Portland. Here are a few comments:
"The store that calls itself the City of Books has been dubbed 'the best bookstore in the English-speaking world' (author Susan Sontag), 'the world's greatest bookstore' (The Seattle Times), 'the mother monster of bookstores' (author Ursula Le Guin), and 'one of the most innovative and creative enterprises in the country' (The Wall Street Journal)."
Delemental
First Post
paulewaug said:
The only problem with Things is that they might not be around much longer. The Things stores (there's more than one) are owned by Dark Horse Comics (which is based in Portland), and are basically used as a tax shelter. That's why they have a lot of comic-related paraphenilia. However, rumor has it that Dark Horse has decided to liquidate them.
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