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mikhaila wrote: And Enter the Realm opened near my other shop. And a store carrying GW in the King of Prussia Mall. Compleat Strategist below that. A very saturated area. And yet the Exton area to the west 10 miles has much better demographics with massive growth going on, and no game stores at all.
The problem is, GW doesn't do their own research, they rely on real estate agents, which has resulted in some pretty crappy spots that they close later, or put in saturated areas.
I've got a call into GW to ask what current policies are, point out distances to current stores, ask questions.
And if it still goes in, will just kick their ass repeatedly until they go away. And gladly take any new gamers they create in that time. Not really too pissed about it. Shops open and close around me all the time. It would have been polite for GW to at least give me a call to let me know, given that we have over 2 decades of history with them.
Yeah, you'd think that a store here (that's my area) would have made the most sense. Chester County is definitely the income level they're looking for. *shrug*
The Games Keep is nearby in West Chester, although he's much more focused on CCGs and board games than tabletop minis.
I would have liked to seen something more like Pottstown, maybe it's too far out there.. There's a little comic shop I stopped in once, they had a very small GW section that was collecting visible dust, and a bunch of folks in the back playing MTG. Collegeville also seems to be turning into a happenin' place, but that might be too close to King of Prussia.
Maybe someone needs to open a Showcase Comics III out here.
Barzam wrote: Wow, only one in the West Coast? That seems kind of dumb. I'd think San Francisco would be a great location.
I'd be really surprised if they opened one in San Fran... the rents in the SF Bay Area are fething ridiculous...
I haven't been back up that way in a while, but I remember there was one in San Jose, in what used to be called Oakridge Mall. As far as I know it is still there. Again, small space, not a lot of room for gaming, one staff member, etc. Game Kastle is the go-to FLGS in the area now (I hear?) The GW store in the Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton closed many moons ago as well.
I used to buy all my miniatures/gaming stuff (back int he '90s) from D&J Hobby in Campbell, but the last time I was up there, they were pretty bare bones, shifted focus more to slot car racing and RC kits...and I heard it closed down. I think the owner's son opened another D&J Hobby in San Jose, but I'm not sure if they carry war-gaming products, much less GW proper.
I just want a hobby shop within spitting distance from my house. Nearest to me are still a good 30 minute drive with regular traffic, and considering the state of our state's roads and the amount of traffic on them, it's never 30 minutes.
(I just got back to work from the closest one. It certainly wasn't 30 minutes in the middle of the day either)
Poorly lit photos of my ever- growing collection of completely unrelated models!
Commercial real estate lease rates aside, considering that those in the SF Bay Area are perhaps making more in the way of salary compensation than those in in Des Moines (on average), the disparity in cost of living to income ratio is huge when comparing the two... More money goes to living expenses = less money goes to luxury goods.
With the way we've seen GW close shops on a whim and open across town, just to save a few buck on rent, dropping store hours, reducing staff to 1 person, and the fact that a Land Raider sold in SF is the same retail price as a Land Raider sold in Des Moines...it just doesn't make sense to their bottom line to have a store in San Francisco...but who knows, maybe I'm wrong, and they already have one there....or, if not, are missing out on tons of lost revenue by not having one there...and just haven't realized it yet?
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/11/13 23:08:25
Fango wrote: Game Kastle is the go-to FLGS in the area now (I hear?)
GK is in Santa Clara and Santa Clara is an exception to the Bay Area because they have low utilities and taxes for warehouses, which are what game stores here essentially are.
Gitkikka wrote: Garland, TX, huh? That's pretty close to Madness Comics territory. And not hugely far from the Frisco one (assuming that one is still open).
Possibly up near Firewheel? Can't think of anywhere else that would have their intended clientele. Frisco store is still open, when the manage isn't sick or "late" because of "traffic". Depending on the Garland location, it could be 15-45 minutes from both Madness and Frisco. Texas Toy Soldier is there just south of George Bush Tollway and has a strong presence mid metroplex.
Richmond had a huge battle bunker before. There are a few good stores there already.
If that battle bunker had remained open, I probably would still be playing 40k.
I don't see how a one man store is going to do anything meaningful in Richmond.
Also, check out my history blog: Minimum Wage Historian, a fun place to check out history that often falls between the couch cushions.
The MA stores are interesting. We had 3 previously, which closed around 2007. Then nothing for years. By now most folks have a local store and the new stores only seem to be aimed in weird areas.
I am excited about being able to get silly pins and such. But that is about all.
www.thebolterhole.com - Check out our shop, The Bolter Hole, where our focus is community gaming!
Dez wrote: Haha, several GW stores out in Eastern MA. Nada for Western MA, even though we have a large community and several stores.
But it only takes like, what, 45 minutes to drive across MA?
Depends onwhere you are going, but an hour and a half if you ca take 90. My point wasn't that I need to go to GW, but that they opened multiple stores on the eastern part of the state when we have a thriving area here. There's a GW in West Hartford which is closer, but driving anywhere in this congested area...
"Orkses never lost a battle. If we win we win, if we die we die fighting so it don't count. If we runs for it we don't die neither, cos we can come back for annuver go, see!"
I dig how in a setting where giant, muscled fungus men ride Mad Max cars and use their own teeth as currency, the concept of little engineering dudes with beards was considered a step too far down the aisle of silliness.
Saw GW expand rapidly in the Houston, TX metro area from 3 stores to 7 about 2005 - 2011(?), most located in the west and northwest metro area with 3 of them within 10 to 15 minutes of where I lived. It was heady times as the stores were not yet following the one man store format, many had 4 to 6 tables and decent hobby space, kept FW books in stock in addition to having the complete selection of GW stock. It was real easy for me to pop into any of the local locations and I stood a good chance that if there wasn't an open table or pick up game at one location I could quickly find a table/game at another location.
The downside of course was all the independent stockists disappeared in those areas during that time with only one comic book/game store that mostly catered to MTG and RPG's with token tabletop stock excluding GW.
Then GW contracted to 2 one man stores with only 2 or 3 tables ea, leaving basically almost all of the NW quadrant of the metro area a dead zone. I went from a 10 to 15 minute drive to a 45 minute to a 1 hour drive to reach the closest GW or independent stockist for the last 3 - 4 years. Only recently (since September) has the comic book store added a small amount of GW coinciding with their move to a bigger store with a bigger gaming space which is still pretty much only for MTG, RPG, board games, and X-wing.
Bottom line is I don't trust GW to stay committed to their locations and would just assume GW not expand in Houston and allow independent stockist who would have the advantage of not living or dying on GW the opportunity to develop and flourish.
So my word of caution to those who long for a "local" GW or envious of those places getting new GW stores, Be careful what you wish for.
"Preach the gospel always, If necessary use words." ~ St. Francis of Assisi
Lord of Deeds wrote: Saw GW expand rapidly in the Houston, TX metro area from 3 stores to 7 about 2005 - 2011(?), most located in the west and northwest metro area with 3 of them within 10 to 15 minutes of where I lived. It was heady times as the stores were not yet following the one man store format, many had 4 to 6 tables and decent hobby space, kept FW books in stock in addition to having the complete selection of GW stock. It was real easy for me to pop into any of the local locations and I stood a good chance that if there wasn't an open table or pick up game at one location I could quickly find a table/game at another location.
The downside of course was all the independent stockists disappeared in those areas during that time with only one comic book/game store that mostly catered to MTG and RPG's with token tabletop stock excluding GW.
Then GW contracted to 2 one man stores with only 2 or 3 tables ea, leaving basically almost all of the NW quadrant of the metro area a dead zone. I went from a 10 to 15 minute drive to a 45 minute to a 1 hour drive to reach the closest GW or independent stockist for the last 3 - 4 years. Only recently (since September) has the comic book store added a small amount of GW coinciding with their move to a bigger store with a bigger gaming space which is still pretty much only for MTG, RPG, board games, and X-wing.
Bottom line is I don't trust GW to stay committed to their locations and would just assume GW not expand in Houston and allow independent stockist who would have the advantage of not living or dying on GW the opportunity to develop and flourish.
So my word of caution to those who long for a "local" GW or envious of those places getting new GW stores, Be careful what you wish for.
This is my worry as well. I hope Richmond independent stores can adapt and stay in business long enough for GW to inevitably closer their stores.
Also, check out my history blog: Minimum Wage Historian, a fun place to check out history that often falls between the couch cushions.
For those of you who have a LGS that you frequent, what does a new local GW mean to you?
Pittsburgh has never had a GW store. If one were to be put in now, it would provide absolutely nothing that one of my LGS' doesn't already provide, and in fact, would have far less than what my current LGS' provide in the way of free gaming space, product, and staff. What's the possible upside?
I love my LGS's around here. I'd rarely go to a GW. I'm just surprised given our area that they haven't put one in. It would be nice to expand things even further.
"Orkses never lost a battle. If we win we win, if we die we die fighting so it don't count. If we runs for it we don't die neither, cos we can come back for annuver go, see!"
I dig how in a setting where giant, muscled fungus men ride Mad Max cars and use their own teeth as currency, the concept of little engineering dudes with beards was considered a step too far down the aisle of silliness.
I'd still do all my shopping on eBay for major discounts or at my flgs as they give a 10% discount as well. Well, and my flgs staff are awesome and there is a great community there.
Sorry but the only good a gw store would do around here is if they carried forgeworld products.
the_Armyman wrote: For those of you who have a LGS that you frequent, what does a new local GW mean to you?
I don't think it changes much for those with a solid local game store, but if there are some smaller stores (with no discount), I expect the same thing that always happens. Smaller GW sellers will end up limiting their stock (whether via GW changing its rules or lack of sales because GW opening stores in competition locally) but larger store/sellers (especially stores that fund their business with MtG) will not change much.
It isn't as though GW will be bringing a giant store with multiple tables and hosting games/tourneys/events. The only reason I will go to a GW shop is to get some of the shop specific stuff. I get my GW fix supported by my local just fine. There are a few stores in MA that probably won't survive the onslaught of GW expansion. But my shop will be fine.
www.thebolterhole.com - Check out our shop, The Bolter Hole, where our focus is community gaming!
So I guess they dec against opening a location in Utah.. from a year ago they had been looking for someone. I guess their standards for employees are beyond reason lol
MWHistorian wrote: Richmond had a huge battle bunker before. There are a few good stores there already.
If that battle bunker had remained open, I probably would still be playing 40k.
I don't see how a one man store is going to do anything meaningful in Richmond.
One Eye Jaques still kicking?
I remember Stoney Point GW. That was one hell of a great store. Solid team running that one, back in the day, and a really great bunch of guys.
I'd think that the new stores go back traditional. The One man shows are just horrid concepts, and won't make a dime in the current market.
Might work in Europe, but the States, its a different animal. Weekends, holidays, after school. those are the money making times.
They need to go back to 3-5 man shops, and sell, game, and pimp product. "Gamer better have my money, come rain, come sleet, come snow!...."
At Games Workshop, we believe that how you behave does matter. We believe this so strongly that we have written it down in the Games Workshop Book. There is a section in the book where we talk about the values we expect all staff to demonstrate in their working lives. These values are Lawyers, Guns and Money.
Consul Scipio wrote: Northern Virginia game stores have been adapting and winning against GW stores for 20 years. I suspect Richmond stores will do the same.
Curious which independent ones you're talking about that are winning in NoVA.
Hudson / Marlborough, MA Burlington, MA Methuen Town, MA Braintree / Weymouth, MA Franklin, MA
I do not like this. They are very close to my FLGSes. I am surprised they did not target Worcester and would have preferred that they did, but that would probably kill TBS in Auburn.
BUT they would be GW only, and the other stores have Star Wars, Warmachine, Board Games, Magic and other CCG, etc... so maybe I am being nervous too early.
Elect of the Plaguefather 4500pts
