The girls had yet another long-distance gymnastics meet this past weekend, and with my wife's transmission debacle for the last meet (over Fall-In! weekend), her subsequent new car, and the offer of staying over at some relatives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington D.C, I knew I couldn't resign myself to just watch the dogs and rake some leaves.
As is the family tradition with the drives below the Mason-Dixon line for meets, my wife always needs to acquire three things at a store the en route to the hotel (or her Aunt and Uncle's place for this event).
Sweet Freakin' Jesus, I've reached the modern gaming Nirvana.
We were met by stacks of some the more recent board/card games releases, but that first rack in the front of the picture are all family games (re: normal games that mundane people can play and not get weirded out.) The only two things that the well-visited store didn't seem to have that people inquired about? Rubik's Cubes and Sorry, and unlike most FLGS, it wasn't that they didn't normally stock it, it was that they were current sold out and getting more.
Keeping a close eye on an equally excited Maja, we began to explore, and found the biggest permanent set-up for mins-painting that I have ever seen.
The minis section occupied the entire right third of the store with GW, Warlord, Malifaux, Battletech, Infinity, Star Wars, Frostgrave, and a host of other lines. Everything well stocked and with easily visible prices.
I peaked through the double doors of the storefront to find a gaming area of equal. Plenty of room for wargames and CCGs, but the thing that caught my eye was the permanent counter where tourney organizers/judges could sit and take care of everything.
The middle third of the storefront could be called a safe space for beginning Warhammer moms. The previously mentioned traditional games, stacks of non-threatening board games, and a few racks of pop culture tchotchkes and small games. To be truthful, if the Warhammer mom brought a younger sibling, this a varied and amusing version of the candy rack at the checkout that's right behind it.
The register area was huge, with two registers and an entirely separate area for CCG singles. I counted at least five employees working the store: one running the wargaming tournament in the back, two alternating the register, one handling the CCG singles crowd, on one fellow who's only job was to give a friendly, but passive greeting to new customers a few moments after they entered the store, and possibly be empathetic enough to those who really had a questions/interest/problem he could help out with. For most customers, we were given a smile and a hello, and we were left to wander the store unmolested.
The left third of the storefront is dominated by a fantastic RPG section that realizes that there have been a LOT of games made alongside D&D, and has been given the proper space. It was the first time I could peruse a few lines in a store-environment, such as a wide array of Trail of Cthulhu products. In fact, a number of items just solicited for next month's Game Trade Magazine are already on the shelves.
Intermixed with all the next books was a fair collection of used or even vintage RPG material, much of it priced in the reasonable middle ground between Noble Knight prices and local con dollar auctions. Nothing was a bargain, but most items that caught my eye gave me pause to consider a budget on a return visit.
To complicate matters for any future finances, was a section of used board/wargames.
Again, nothing was dirt cheap unless it was clearance, but the prices were acceptable.
As is the family tradition with the drives below the Mason-Dixon line for meets, my wife always needs to acquire three things at a store the en route to the hotel (or her Aunt and Uncle's place for this event).
- Hair ties
- Hair spray
- White socks
Just hitting the early dinner rush passing through Baltimore, my wife asked for dinner recommendations (insert the couple's who can't choose meals meme of your choice), and I decided to take an exit towards Glen Burnie and see where we ended up for food, and a drug store for the supplies.
After meandering on the highways a bit, we got off, noticed a few fast food joints, and investigated a strip mall. Initially, I was delighted to find a Dollar General for the supplies, but as I navigated around the tight little parking lot, an adjacent sign caught my eye:
 |
| Imagine it dark, and the green letters with a neon-like glow to them. |
While my wife took Millie in Dollar General, Maja and I investigated this strange phenomenon. Upon entering, we were hit by this sight:
We were met by stacks of some the more recent board/card games releases, but that first rack in the front of the picture are all family games (re: normal games that mundane people can play and not get weirded out.) The only two things that the well-visited store didn't seem to have that people inquired about? Rubik's Cubes and Sorry, and unlike most FLGS, it wasn't that they didn't normally stock it, it was that they were current sold out and getting more.
Keeping a close eye on an equally excited Maja, we began to explore, and found the biggest permanent set-up for mins-painting that I have ever seen.
 |
| An actual permanent painting/modelling center. |
I peaked through the double doors of the storefront to find a gaming area of equal. Plenty of room for wargames and CCGs, but the thing that caught my eye was the permanent counter where tourney organizers/judges could sit and take care of everything.
The register area was huge, with two registers and an entirely separate area for CCG singles. I counted at least five employees working the store: one running the wargaming tournament in the back, two alternating the register, one handling the CCG singles crowd, on one fellow who's only job was to give a friendly, but passive greeting to new customers a few moments after they entered the store, and possibly be empathetic enough to those who really had a questions/interest/problem he could help out with. For most customers, we were given a smile and a hello, and we were left to wander the store unmolested.
The left third of the storefront is dominated by a fantastic RPG section that realizes that there have been a LOT of games made alongside D&D, and has been given the proper space. It was the first time I could peruse a few lines in a store-environment, such as a wide array of Trail of Cthulhu products. In fact, a number of items just solicited for next month's Game Trade Magazine are already on the shelves.
Intermixed with all the next books was a fair collection of used or even vintage RPG material, much of it priced in the reasonable middle ground between Noble Knight prices and local con dollar auctions. Nothing was a bargain, but most items that caught my eye gave me pause to consider a budget on a return visit.
To complicate matters for any future finances, was a section of used board/wargames.
 |
| A used section with solid prices |
 |
| Any store with a copy of Elfquest gets kudos by me! |
My wife and Millie returned, got to gaze in wonder and bewilderment all their own, and we left with some Pokemon cards for Maja and single pack of Magic for myself. I couldn't justify adding more books to the shelves, or minis to the table, but by golly, there was opportunity.
I don't give out five out of five gnomes for many game stores. Pop's Culture Shop up in Wellsboro, PA was my first because it was the perfect mixture of small town gaming store that could cater to tourists and non-gamers as well.
Games and Stuff is the realization of that type of shop in an urban setting. I counted somewhere between two and three dozen walk-in customers and they accounted for a constant and varied amount of sales. There was always someone checking out at the register for 30-40 minutes of my stay. Let me rephrase that to all the other local game stores that focus on their in-store gaming and gamers. While the tournament people played in the back, all of the store's revenue was getting generated by other people. You can have it both ways if you're willing to invest the time and the inventory.
Or perhaps Games and Stuff should just be a template that other FLGS can aspire to be and still maintain their own identity.
My wife's first words to me when she came in summed up my opinion of Games and Stuff: "This is exactly the store you would have if you could open one yourself."
I could only nod and giggle... and give them Five out of Five Gnomes.
Games and Stuff is located 7385 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard Suite G
Glen Burnie, MD 21061. Their phone number (410) 863-7418.
Glen Burnie, MD 21061. Their phone number (410) 863-7418.
And to finish up the reason for our meandering, we found an acceptable IHOP, visited the relatives the girls earned two golds, two silvers, and a host of lesser awards at their meet, and we managed to stop at Primanti Bros. in York for a great lunch before returning home. After back-to-back con weekends and car problems, this was a great family weekend.
Those leaves will wait until December.
