Ocala Florida Game Stores

[atom crash]

BooksAMillion is also a great place for RPG books.

Man, it warms my heart to see people mention BAM and BAMM.com as a good place to get gaming books. I get a ton of my books there. But I'm biased; I work for the chain.

But I used to get all my books from Books Inc. and the FBS Vol II before I started working at the BAM next to the Oaks Mall. The Travelling Mage was a good place to get back issues of Dragon and Dungeon, though.

 

[CarlZog]

Mmmm, Burrito Bros. I really have to get back to G'ville for a weekend soon.

I never went to the Porpoise. It was the hangout of the fraternities when I was there. But you could find me at the Salty Dog two or three nights a week.

Yeah, I love the Dog too. When it first opened, the Porpoise was a LOT more like the Dog. No pool hall; no disco. Just the front bar and room. Cheap beer, good burgers and lots of oysters. We'd buy unshucked bushels for parties. They even served breakfast for a while, but couldn't compete with Skeeter's. I had a check-cashing card at the Porpoise.

Carl

 

[spectre72]

How long does it take to go from Ocala to Gainsville?

It looks like about 30 miles, but I am sure that it will take longet than I would think with traffic.

Thanks
Scott

 

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It's a 30- to 45-minute drive up I-75, depending on traffic.

There's a big flea market halfway between Ocala and G'ville on I-75 that's worth checking out if you have the time. It's held every other weekend IIRC. I bought a nice sword and dagger there once.

 

[spectre72]

Everyone,

Thanks for all of the info.

We have to drive further than that just to get to a decent grocery store so anything under 50 miles isn't even talking about

It has been years since I have been to a real game store so it will be wierd to actually see a product before ordering it online.

TTYL
Scott

 

[DaveMage]

Yep, three real 'game' shops here in Gainesville that I know of for sure are Mega Comics, Florida Book Store and Travelling Mage...though I've only been to Travelling Mage once or twice. I've known the guys at Mega Comics for about 8 or so years now so I'm always up there. BooksAMillion is also a great place for RPG books.

Mmm...I have the sudden urge to run out and get some Burrito Brothers now.

Actually, Travelling Mage went out of business last year.

Florida Book Store on 34th street is still there, and is the one I most visit when I don't order online. All RPGS are 10% off, and they have a pretty nice 50% off discount rack with lots of (mostly older) d20 stuff.

Mega comics charges full price, but has a good selection. They are located right off of I-75 on Newberry Road.

 

[DaveMage]

They even served breakfast for a while, but couldn't compete with Skeeter's. I had a check-cashing card at the Porpoise.

Carl

Skeeter's? You're dating yourself there.

Skeeter's closed down many (8-10?) years ago.

 

[kitoy]

Skeeter's? You're dating yourself there.

Skeeter's closed down many (8-10?) years ago.

Oh lord, Skeeter's. I spent many, many, many late night/early mornings there. I remember the breakfast's were amazing, especially the pancake meals with extra grease. I wish the place was still open so I could go visit. I'd like to know if the food was really as good as I remember it was, or if it's just a mix of nostalgia and a post-partying/clubbing haze of goodwill.

Wow, haven't thought about that place in years.

 

[atom crash]

Skeeter's was before my time. I did enjoy going to Firpo's in the middle of the night for a kitchen sink omelette.

I'm not surprised about The Travelling Mage closing. I used to go there in hopes of finding something I wanted to buy, but he never seemed to get new stuff in.

 

[DaveMage]

Skeeter's was before my time. I did enjoy going to Firpo's in the middle of the night for a kitchen sink omelette.

I'm not surprised about The Travelling Mage closing. I used to go there in hopes of finding something I wanted to buy, but he never seemed to get new stuff in.

I didn't go to the Travelling Mage much until the d20 boom really began (late 2001/2002). I became a regular for a while there because he was getting things in very quickly, and he had a very wide selection. Actually, the fact that he had so much d20 stuff that (unfortunately) sat on the shelves probably contributed to the store's downfall.

At the time, Amazon wasn't carrying a lot of d20 products and while there was FRP games online, the shipping costs often would nullify the discount.