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Post by kesher on Feb 1, 2011 15:33:56 GMT -6
So, here's my idea, inspired by Fin's recent post about a new gaming store that just opened up outside of Chicago.
Let's create local lists of links to gaming stores, with a capsule review under each. Frex, I will respond to this post with info about the three gaming stores I know something about in the MPLS/St. Paul area. If someone else from the same area has more info, they can either post separately or send me a link a capsule review, and I'll edit my own post.
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Post by kesher on Feb 1, 2011 15:43:22 GMT -6
Minneapolis/St. Paul The Source Comics and GamesTruly a Cadillac of game and comic stores. Huge, with pretty much anything you can think of in stock. A big collection of gaming tables in the back, and friendly, knowledgeable staff. Can get a bit noisy, but that's small potatoes. Tower GamesSmall but friendly, mostly wargaming, but some rpg/general geekery as well. The owner used to work at the much-loved-but-now-moved-far-away Phoenix Games. I've never tried to play there, but there are a few available tables. Just about 10 blocks away from my house. The Fantasy Flight Games Event CenterBig and roomy, if a bit sterile. Friendly staff who were really interested in the fact that we were playing ODD. In fact, one of my occasional players works there, which is how I found out about it. Again, lots of wargaming (by which I mean Warhammer), but rpgs and board games, too. |
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Post by Random on Feb 1, 2011 16:09:11 GMT -6
Double HeaderPine Bluff, AR This is my childhood comic/game shop. I drop by when I'm in my hometown to pick up a couple of NES games or whatever. They still have a couple of dusty 2E AD&D books on their racks (last time I checked), but they mostly sell newer RPG stuff, M:TG (which I love to play but no longer collect), and of course video games and comics, as well as movies, action figures, board games, and the like. As for service and atmosphere, it has always been excellent. It's one of those stores you leave feeling happy, regardless of what you may or may not have purchased. (Although I currently live in Fayetteville, I haven't bothered to scope out the local shops here.)
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arcadayn
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 236
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Post by arcadayn on Feb 14, 2011 9:53:33 GMT -6
kesher - Where did Phoenix move? I used to LOVE that store. Des Moines only has one crappy shop left. Mayhem comics is down to one aisle of RPGs.
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Post by chicagowiz on Feb 14, 2011 10:09:56 GMT -6
Games Plus - Mt. Prospect IL - open since 1983. The gold standard in the Chicagoland area, hosts the most games, biggest gaming area, largest selection and VERY SUPPORTIVE of tabletop RPGing and old school gaming. Chicagoland Games/Dice Dojo Chicago, IL (Edgewater) - very fun place, very noisy and lots of games going on - lots of board games, minis and RPGs. Unique Gifts & Games - Grayslake, IL - another small shop, caters to the minis games that attract young players but supportive of RPGs and 4e. I'm doing my Classic D&D marathon there this year. (March 5th - X1 Isle of Dread - similar to B2 marathon last year. Come play Classic/Holmes!) Black Sun Games - Great place - a small shop, just a couple of tables for open gaming, but they've been around for awhile. Xtreme Games - Lindenhurst, IL - don't know anything about them. Gamers Asylum - either Evanston, IL or Chicago, IL - small shoestring place - supported WH40k but also D&D and WoD games. I'm sure there are more in the Chicago area, these are just the ones I know of for sure.
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Koren n'Rhys
Level 6 Magician
Got your mirrorshades?
Posts: 355
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Post by Koren n'Rhys on Feb 14, 2011 10:21:17 GMT -6
Bearded Dragon Games and Comics (currently no website) - Oneonta, NY - Small place that's about 50/50 games and comics. Decent selection of Warhammer minis and books, 4e, shadowrun and some board games. Virtually no old-school stuff beyond some 3e in a clearance box. Not a great store, unfortunately.
I should point out that they do carry Gamescience dice. They must have been out when i stopped looking for them a while back and had to get them online, but they had some during my last visit a few weeks ago. Since the staff doesn't come across as very friendly, I didn't even ask at the time if they could order me any.
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Post by bluskreem on Feb 14, 2011 11:18:01 GMT -6
Paddy's Game Shoppe
St Cloud, MN Paddy's is a nice little shop that focuses on dice, board games, and CCG's. The RPG selection is OK, but it consists of modern games most of the time. they are usually very good about tracking down orders for you, however. Many of the regulars and employees can be rather clickish, but the owner and wife are great folk. The owner is a big time dice collector, so you can count on an odd assortment of polyhedrons when ever you arrive (he loves talking about dice too, so be prepared for a chat if you pick any odd ones up.) there's another game shop in town, but it's almost entirely CCG and sports cards, although they do have some 2nd ed stuff. I can't remember the name of the store for the life of me however.
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Post by kesher on Feb 14, 2011 20:53:56 GMT -6
kesher - Where did Phoenix move? I used to LOVE that store. Des Moines only has one crappy shop left. Mayhem comics is down to one aisle of RPGs. : That about says it all...  I used to love going there when I was in jr. high/high school and just pawing through all the dusty games that'd been sitting there for years---who knows what old school treasures I passed up! I actually went to school with the owner's brother... |
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Post by coffee on Feb 14, 2011 22:32:16 GMT -6
I've been out to the new Phoenix Games store once. What drew me was that Neil had all rpg material 20% off. Always.
(Don't know if he still does.)
It is kind of far, but it's still a good store. Pretty small, though.
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arcadayn
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 236
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Post by arcadayn on Feb 15, 2011 8:38:32 GMT -6
Phoenix Games used to have a great used section. Every time I would go to Minneapolis to visit my cousin in the '90s (couple of times year), we would hit Phoenix Games and all of the Shinder's books in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.
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Post by coffee on Feb 15, 2011 12:22:21 GMT -6
Shinder's went out of business a few years ago, so that's out. But I did find some great stuff in their bargain bins.
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Post by vladtolenkov on Apr 15, 2011 11:26:01 GMT -6
The War House This is my local gaming store. They're nice guys and the store has been there forever. There's a listing for them in the Armory Ad in Best of Dragon Vol. 1. They've got a good selection of boardgames, and in the back area of the store there are boxes with quite a lot of RPG stuff. Diligent looking through boxes will yield interesting things. www.thewarhousegames.com/ |
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Post by thorswulf on Apr 30, 2011 19:55:33 GMT -6
Olympic Cards & Comics Located in Lacey, Washington, with fairly easy access to and from the freeway (I5)! Gab the owner is a fan of comics, games, kids, and having fun in general! One of the nicest folks you'd ever meet and they have tons of stuff. Most of the new stuff is on the racks, but they carry indie stuff like Labyrinth Lord (Yay!) too. They also get in about one huge collection of old game stuff per year from estate sales and the like. So sometimes you can get lucky and find some old treasures.
The Danger Room is located in downtown Olympia, Washington and carries mostly comics-albeit more than I've ever seen! A great source for older comics like Savage Sword of Conan, Creepy, Eerie and the like from time to time. Some older game stuff, but they will refer you to Olympic Cards and Comics if that is more of what you are interested in.
I got to know these folks over the last 17 years pretty well. Comics/Gamers are a small niche no matter where you go, and all of these owners grew up together. It's kind of a big family in that respect!
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Post by leicamaster on Jan 8, 2012 22:13:13 GMT -6
Charlotte, NC Games HQ: 4548 Old Pineville Rd. Charlotte, NC The owner, Howard, is a great guy who is very knowledgeable about RPG's, card games, board games, etc... (And he has one HUGE Palladium collection) They have a fairly nice selection of games and they also have space for players. www.gameshqonline.com |
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Post by aldarron on Jan 11, 2012 8:10:08 GMT -6
Albany/Schenectady capital district. I don't play games in game stores (except once in NYC) so I can't comment one way or the other about that, but: Flights of Fantasy www.fof.net/ - great owner. massive selection of scifi and fantasy books. Very good selection of RPG material including boxes of old dragon magazines. Not quite as much stuff since they moved from downtown to wolf road, but still a great store to visit. Zombie Planet www.zombie-planet.com/ - friendly staff, lots of games of all kinds and a decent selection of minis on the bottom floor. The second floor is supposed to be devoted to comic books but I can't comment since I'm only interested in thier gaming stuff and never took the time to look upstairs. |
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