WotC Stores?

[Shemeska]

I still divide my purchases between a couple FLGSs and Amazon (with the sole exception of my super delayed but super cheap ELH from overstock.com or wherever it was). I've never once in my life actually seen an actual WotC store. I've no idea if they ever even had any in NC.

 

[maggot]

Around here, the Wizards stores killed off nearly every FLGS before going out of business themselves. That leaves one struggling store in the immediate area, but I suspect many people have headed to the internet for purchases. Too bad because we have lost out on a lot of in-store brousing and gaming.

 

[LeapingShark]

I miss the WOTC store, a bright cheery place, and full of clean air! Sure beats the gloomy, dusty crypt that we call the FLGS.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

There was a WotC store in Mentor (near Cleveland). As others have remarked, it used to carry non-WotC d20 publishers. Then it stopped carrying non-WotC stuff, but I didn't really care because I rarely bought any of it. At that point the store still carried a massive selection of WotC books.

And then they went and closed up shop, and now I have to go to normal bookstores (Borders, Barnes & Noble) if I want my D&D-book fix. So I personally am saddened, but the overall effect on the market? Eh, not much.

It might be a drive for you, but check out my favorite game shop (back when I lived in the area), Matrix Games and Diversions:

http://www.matrixgamesanddiversion.com/

 

[Darth K'Trava]

I seem to recall a lot of hubbub when they announced they were closing them. Has no one experienced a loss due to this? No one left without a store in their area? Does no one miss the chance to shop more locally than they do now? What alternatives have people had to use? Did anyone even use the WotC stores or did you have an alternate choice you were already using when the WotC store was available?

There wasn't any available in my area, so no big loss there. I usually raided a bookstore or a dealer at a con for what I wanted to get...

 

[HellHound]

Where we live, WotC stores were a fairy tale that we told young gamers about before tucking them into bed with Mox Sapphires under their pillows.

 

[Ao the Overkitty]

Our Gamekeeper had a laughable RPG section. They had an interesting selection of other games, but were a bit pricey. Dice weren't too bad there, though. Think that was the only thing I ever purchased there (might have bought some CheapAss games).

I preferred the FLGS or Amazon.

 

[RandomPrecision]

I'm with the bobitron. Never seen a WotC store, and from the sounds of this thread, I'm never going to see one. I started reading this thread because I had never heard of them, and I wondered if WotC was going to open its own stores.

 

[Glyfair]

And then they went and closed up shop, and now I have to go to normal bookstores (Borders, Barnes & Noble) if I want my D&D-book fix.

I admit, I amazed a major city like Cleveland doesn't have a single store devoted to "hobby gaming" (at least one that carries D&D books). Here in Northern Delaware we have three stores (although one opened up across the street from another, and there is a bit of friction there).

There used to be a WotC store over in Exton, Pennsylvania across the line. It was never close enough to call a "local game store" (although it was closer than many have), and I only stopped by because I was curious to see what one was like. It was very unimpressive compared to the two stores we had at the time.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I admit, I amazed a major city like Cleveland doesn't have a single store devoted to "hobby gaming" (at least one that carries D&D books).

Cleveland does have such shops. Collector's Warehouse in Lakewood, a suburb of Cleveland, is a good example. It's been in business a long time.

http://www.collectorswarehouse.com/