Tell me about your favorite game store
- Thread starter goodmangames
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Mean Eyed Cat
Explorer
My favorite (and closest) game store is Safari Pearl's in Moscow, Idaho. They have a good selection of 4th edition stuff, some 3rd/3.5 stuff, comics, anime, dvds, and a big selection costumes (which is a little unusual for a comic & game store). They have a game room for people to use. The staff is very nice and helpful and they have a friendly dog that usually greets you as you enter the store.
Sometimes, I go to Merlyn's in Spokane, WA. They're bigger than Safari Pearl's, with a nice selection of 3rd/3.5 edition and 4th edition games as well as OD&D, and other RPGs. They also have a nice selection of miniatures, TCGs, comics, and SF/Fantasy books. They have a big gaming area in the back of the store.
When I lived in Portland, OR I always went to Bridgetown Hobbies & Games. In addition to many tabletop RPGS, they also had a big selection of tabletop wargames and accessories. They also had a lot of stuff for modelers. Whenever I'm in Portland, its one of the three places (along with Powell's Books and Things From Another World) that I try to visit.
Sometimes, I go to Merlyn's in Spokane, WA. They're bigger than Safari Pearl's, with a nice selection of 3rd/3.5 edition and 4th edition games as well as OD&D, and other RPGs. They also have a nice selection of miniatures, TCGs, comics, and SF/Fantasy books. They have a big gaming area in the back of the store.
When I lived in Portland, OR I always went to Bridgetown Hobbies & Games. In addition to many tabletop RPGS, they also had a big selection of tabletop wargames and accessories. They also had a lot of stuff for modelers. Whenever I'm in Portland, its one of the three places (along with Powell's Books and Things From Another World) that I try to visit.
Fallen Seraph
First Post
It isn't a dedicated gaming store, but since I would just go there to buy my RPGs it serves my purposes perfectly. Is the Silver Snail in Toronto. It also has lots besides games; movie props, toys, comics, anime, manga, etc. Basically just a big nerd pantheon of stuff. It also is extremely clean, two stories tall, nice staff, has good deals, will order stuff for you. All around awesome.
resistor
First Post
I no longer live there, but Source Comics and Games in Saint Paul, MN, is TOTALLY AMAZING. Friendly, helpful staff, the biggest selection in geekery (both gaming and non-gaming) that I've ever seen, and a huge dedicated gaming space. Plus, they have a kick-ass holiday sale, with door prizes, slot machines awarding deep discounts, a huge clearance sale, and free food.
Another game store that I've been pleasantly surprised with was Game Kastle, in Santa Clara, CA. (That's Silicon Valley, to those who don't know.) I've attended a couple of game days there, and they have a super customer-friendly free RPG day policy. The employees have seemed knowledgeable, friendly, and not overly pushy.
Another game store that I've been pleasantly surprised with was Game Kastle, in Santa Clara, CA. (That's Silicon Valley, to those who don't know.) I've attended a couple of game days there, and they have a super customer-friendly free RPG day policy. The employees have seemed knowledgeable, friendly, and not overly pushy.
pogre
Legend
Outstanding store - although I cannot be a regular there, due to my location, I wish I could. I run in there almost every time I swing through the Chicago area.
Dyson Logos
Hero
While the snail in Toronto is 500% better (maybe even 520% better) than the one in Ottawa, I was always disappointed in it when it came to buying RPGs. But that's probably because I'm one of those guys who loves a lot of different games and the Snail really didn't seem to stock much outside of the top selling lines.
But yes, I'll vouch for friendly, clean and nerdy.
spuppett
First Post
I like this one too. I have one a bit closer to me in the Quad Cities, and I do go to it a bit more, but Critical Hit Games is a lot cleaner.
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Piratecat
Sesquipedalian
I echo what everyone has said about Games Plus! Locally here in Boston, my favorite store is Pandemonium Books & Games in Davis Square, Cambridge MA. Great owner, 10% off buyer reward program ($25 off after $250 bought), they do special orders, usually well-stocked game shelves and plenty of space to play.
Joshua Randall
Legend
My current favorite is Warzone/Matrix in Rocky River (Cleveland), OH. Physically the store is kind of a dump, but it is absolutely packed with games of all types and all eras.
RPGs... war games... board games... mini games... CCGs... I'm convinced there's an unopened OD&D box in there somewhere, right next to some Alpha black lotuses.
The owner is a nice guy, an expert mini-painter who will paint any mini you buy there for a really minimal fee. He's always watching something on his TV, either a "gamer" movie or something about war.
I don't think the store's name is an accident.
One funny thing about Warzone/Matrix is that it shares its strip mall with a restaurant that bills itself as "Cleveland's #1 Somali quisine." I wasn't aware there was that much competition, outside of say Manhattan, for such a niche type of quisine!
I also have to give a shout out to The Rusty Scabbard in Lexington, KY. (They don't appear to have a site, so that's a link to a Google map.)
This is the store where my parents bought me the Red Box, and where I bought myself the 1e AD&D Player's Handbook. As well as tons and tons of other stuff, of course.
My best friend and I used to ride our bikes there, count up our allowance money, and stare longingly at the things we couldn't afford. At the time, we were intimidated by the older gamers (I mean, those guys were probably 18! or 20! LOL), so we didn't hang out there much. But I'd say we visited on shopping trips at least once a week. Happy to see it's still in business!
RPGs... war games... board games... mini games... CCGs... I'm convinced there's an unopened OD&D box in there somewhere, right next to some Alpha black lotuses.
The owner is a nice guy, an expert mini-painter who will paint any mini you buy there for a really minimal fee. He's always watching something on his TV, either a "gamer" movie or something about war.
I don't think the store's name is an accident.One funny thing about Warzone/Matrix is that it shares its strip mall with a restaurant that bills itself as "Cleveland's #1 Somali quisine." I wasn't aware there was that much competition, outside of say Manhattan, for such a niche type of quisine!
I also have to give a shout out to The Rusty Scabbard in Lexington, KY. (They don't appear to have a site, so that's a link to a Google map.)
This is the store where my parents bought me the Red Box, and where I bought myself the 1e AD&D Player's Handbook. As well as tons and tons of other stuff, of course.
My best friend and I used to ride our bikes there, count up our allowance money, and stare longingly at the things we couldn't afford. At the time, we were intimidated by the older gamers (I mean, those guys were probably 18! or 20! LOL), so we didn't hang out there much. But I'd say we visited on shopping trips at least once a week. Happy to see it's still in business!
DM_Jeff
Explorer
Mine is All Things Fun. Discussed at length in my recent lil' tour:
LINK!
And a link to their site:
All Things Fun
-DM Jeff
LINK!
And a link to their site:
All Things Fun
-DM Jeff
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