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Old 10-18-2017, 08:59 PM   #1
Mack_JB
 
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Default Just a rant ...

I know this will get deleted, and that's okay. But I just learned my FLGS has closed as of yesterday ....
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Old 10-18-2017, 09:16 PM   #2
Andrew Hackard
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Default Re: Just a rant ...

Not deleted, but moved to a more appropriate forum.

Was their closure on the horizon? Did you know it was coming? Or did you show up for a regular game night to discover locked doors, doused lights, and maybe a "So long and thanks for all the fish" note in the window?

I don't mean to make light. I'm curious for professional reasons whether this was a store that was hanging on for dear life for months or one that had a single catastrophe that felled it.
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Old 10-18-2017, 09:43 PM   #3
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Default Re: Just a rant ...

I think FLGSs are important enough to all deserve property tax abatements.
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Old 10-18-2017, 09:49 PM   #4
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Default Re: Just a rant ...

I played there on the afternoon of the 8th, and then stayed late as they had an invite only after-hours game session. The owner was there for that playing (Carcassonne, King of Tokyo, Happy Salmon), since he doesn't get to play too often. Everything seemed fine, and he was upbeat and happy. I made sure Castellan got played, giving SJG an obligatory shout out.

They announced the closure on their website and Facebook, but I only check the website occasionally, and I don't have Facebook.

The store was always well stocked, clean, airy, well lit, plenty of store selling space and gaming space ... he used to be in a mall for years, and moved to a stand-alone building a few years ago.

In case anyone is curious, Game Nite on Watson Road (old Route 66!) in St. Louis. I've reached out to someone who knows the owner much better than I, to see if anything can be learned.
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Old 10-18-2017, 11:05 PM   #5
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Default Re: Just a rant ...

We lost our FLGS here earlier this year due to the lease running out and the owner wanting to his life more in order, he bought the shop from the guy who opened it.
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Old 10-19-2017, 06:54 AM   #6
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Default Re: Just a rant ...

Well, perhaps it isn't quite as bad as I'd feared.

I've since heard back from someone who knows the owner better, and apparently he has been privately talking about moving to a less expensive rental space for a while -- so let's hope he lands on his feet, and running.
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Old 10-19-2017, 12:41 PM   #7
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Default Re: Just a rant ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mack_JB View Post
In case anyone is curious, Game Nite on Watson Road (old Route 66!) in St. Louis. I've reached out to someone who knows the owner much better than I, to see if anything can be learned.
That's a bummer. I didn't get there often, myself, as they weren't really near me (St. Charles). However, I'd been in their store a few times and frequently bought from their stand at DieCon and Archon.

Sadly, I've seen many a FLGS fall in my years.
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Old 10-31-2017, 11:09 AM   #8
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Default Re: Just a rant ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Netzilla View Post
That's a bummer. I didn't get there often, myself, as they weren't really near me (St. Charles). However, I'd been in their store a few times and frequently bought from their stand at DieCon and Archon.

Sadly, I've seen many a FLGS fall in my years.
Me, too...
The dead list (all in anchorage):
  • Boscos Eagle River
  • Boscos 5th Avenue
  • Hobbycraft Eagle River
  • Game Keeper Northway Mall
  • Game Keeper Dimond Center
  • Spenard Hobby
  • Games People Play
  • First Empire
  • A1 Cards & Hobbies
  • (Something) Cards & Games
  • Paper Tigers
  • Doug's Collectibles
Old man (Something) sold off because he wanted to retire. Only did cardgames and sports cards. Cranky B******. Way he talked, he seemed to be a holocaust survivor. Folded in the 1990's in his late 70's.
A1 also was retire out.
GPP was the staff of Spenard Hobby...
Spenard Hobby lost a price war with Boscos.
First Empire was a case of owner had to bail for family reasons.
Paper tigers was "not making enough due to buying wrong amounts"
Doug was a side business. Couldn't find non-thieving help for minimum wage and no benefits...

And the survivor list:
  • Boscos Main Store (Anchorage)
  • Boscos Dimond Center (Anchorage)
  • Hobbycraft Diamond Center (Anchorage)
  • Matt's Cavalcade of Comics (Corvallis)
  • Trump's Hobbies (Corvallis)
And the Unfriendly local game store which somehow survives:
  • Pegasus Games (Corvallis)
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