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Well it makes me sad to inform the gaming community specially in SoCal that GW glendale is closing. I wasnt sure if this is news but it is to the many gamers of the area. I have heard that other store in L.A had already closed so I hope this doesnt keep up!

ANOTHER ONE!???!?!?! What the hell! They are taking away all our stores >=(

So when they raise the prices again next year, they'll have even more money to roll around in.

H.B.M.C. wrote:So when they raise the prices again next year, they'll have even more money to roll around in.

I can totally imagine Jervis having a big pool of money in his house that he dives into and swims around in, Scrooge McDuck style.

Cheese Elemental wrote:

H.B.M.C. wrote:So when they raise the prices again next year, they'll have even more money to roll around in.

I can totally imagine Jervis having a big pool of money in his house that he dives into and swims around in, Scrooge McDuck style.

You mean like this?

HiddenPower wrote:Well it makes me sad to inform the gaming community specially in SoCal that GW glendale is closing. I wasnt sure if this is news but it is to the many gamers of the area. I have heard that other store in L.A had already closed so I hope this doesnt keep up!

I bought my first White Dwarf and my first codex at GW Glendale. Sad.

To be fair the main anchor store that the Glendale store was right outside of closed down as well. There is nothing in that end of the mall to draw foot traffic and the only reason for stores in malls in the US is to bring in new players. Can't do that with no foot traffic

They still have the same number of stores in socal as they did this time last year thanks to the opening of the store between LA and San Diego. The current idea is to have 1-2 mall stores in very high traffic malls, 2-6 inline sights and 1 battle bunker in a metro area. This just seems like they are following the new plan. That leaves the Santa Anita, Northridge, and Block at Orange in mall sights.

Jervis? He doesn't get that. It's Kirby who has the money pool.

You're off the mark. Northridge has already closed. It closed before Glendale. The Glendale mall tried to raise the rent on the glendale store. Even if the glendale store increased their profits by 50% the store would be at a loss...GW did the right thing in this case.

There's been a large focus the last couple years on profitability. It's not enough for a store to do well anymore. Stores that can't turn profits will be closed.

That is what happens when you have a region that is not making money....

Chicago money = more stores, Seattle money = more stores, Houston money = more stores and LA no money = less stores and no Games Day

No reason to make it more complex than it needs to be..

Cheers

That effing sucks, my southern friends. I hope this doesn't become a trend... or maybe it is one and I'm late seeing it... I've only been wargaming like two years and am still not privy to the trends. We've got our stores spaced kind of weird up here.

I don't play in GW stores as it is, so this really isn't to big of a deal. It seems weird that they are just closing stores down, it is completely contrary to their long term goals. Are they closing down the store for good, or is it moving out of a mall? I applied for a job with GW, and the District Manager Phil, who everyone calls "Warboss", said that they are planning on having 50 open stores across SoCal in the next 5 years. There are at least 6 opening next year and two are opening in about two months.

And yet there are still exactly 2 stores (maybe 3 now, I know one was about to start) selling GW stuff in San Diego (with a metro population of about 3 million).

GW has a zillion stores in the LA area, some of which they've had to shut down, and yet no presence in the SD metro area with a population equal to or larger than about 20 US states and only a couple independents (and only 1 with any significant player base).

GW aren’t rolling in money, in fact their profits have been small, non-existent or negative for several years.

The GW recovery plan announced two years ago concentrated on rationalising their retail outlets and improving their stock control by fully computerising it and transferring a lot of ordering to the website.

Rationalising retail means closing stores in areas which do not have high enough footfall to act as recruiting stations, which is the main objective for a GW shop.

Unfortunately it seems your local shop is a victim. Mine was in Richmond (Surrey) a couple of years ago and there have been closures in other parts of the UK.

The other thing you notice is the much smaller range of products on shelves in the shops. There are no specialist games and almost no blister packs any more. The concentration is on boxed sets and hobby supplies. Keen users are expected to order from the website in store or at home, and have the stuff delivered.

I usually have stuff delivered to the shop near where I work, because delivery to the shop is free.

Everything is part of a grand plan.

I get the impression that Americans are less likely than British to play games at home or form clubs and play at community halls. I don’t know if it’s true -- I just hear more from US players about playing in stores as their regular venue.

The point is, when your local store loses and you lose the venue, why not set up a club at school or at your local parish hall or something?

JEB_Stuart wrote:I don't play in GW stores as it is, so this really isn't to big of a deal. It seems weird that they are just closing stores down, it is completely contrary to their long term goals. Are they closing down the store for good, or is it moving out of a mall? I applied for a job with GW, and the District Manager Phil, who everyone calls "Warboss", said that they are planning on having 50 open stores across SoCal in the next 5 years. There are at least 6 opening next year and two are opening in about two months.

Having worked for GW, they have been saying this for years. The case remains the same, they are not making money in LA or the Glendale store. Their rent has to be in the $110,000 - $130,000 range and the might bring in $240,000. That does not account for Staff wages, lights, product and so on. They are movng more to "standard" stores which are non-mall locals. LA has been suffering for years...

Cheers

Kilkrazy wrote:GW aren’t rolling in money, in fact their profits have been small, non-existent or negative for several years.

We think. Remember that they recently told us that everything we've been told is a lie. They could even be lying about everything being a lie.

They're very sneaky.

Well, sitting in the Mid-West, I'd have to travel either to Chicago or Dallas, each 8 hours away . . .

sitting Colorado tere is no GW's anywhere near here since Mills closed down. Fortunately we have some good indys

H.B.M.C. wrote:

Kilkrazy wrote:GW aren’t rolling in money, in fact their profits have been small, non-existent or negative for several years.

We think. Remember that they recently told us that everything we've been told is a lie. They could even be lying about everything being a lie.

They're very sneaky.

There's sneaky and there's breaking international accountancy laws.

The way annual accounts are drawn up is pretty tightly controlled to protect the business owners and investors in both directions;

That is, if the business is concealing it is losing money, or concealing that it is making more money than shown and doing something naughty with it.

well as for future plans are concerned I dont believe new stores are coming anytime soon. I have been getting told for at least two years the same BS that dozens of new stores are going to open up.
we still have the option to go to the local hobby stores, however, i feel uncomfortable there. im 23 and going into a store that looks like a serial killers/child molesters garage makes even myself feel nervous. I just hope they reopen somewhere soon, I just bought a stompa and i needs to try it out in real games.
By the way i live smack in the middle of L.A on Hollywood and I dont know by whos definition it is but the "L.A" battle bunker is not in L.A! I have a car and a lot of spare time and even for me its a trek.

Newest WD mentions like 5 new USA stores opening in September, most of them in Texas.

The Glendale store was where I met my gaming group. And although we haven't played there in years, it's still sad to know the place I spent so many of my Thursday nights in college will be gone. Does anyone know when they're closing it down?

That store was always badly managed. Not really suprising.

I think all of you have a good point but sometimes you can't always go to GW for all your hobby needs. The Nearest GW To me is over 50 miles away In NYC It's a hours drive to get the plus another 30-45 minutes if you include traffic. Were as two towns over (2 miles away about 5 minutes) There is a massive hobby store that is full to the brim with Games Workshop Stuff and other hobby supplies with 18% off everything in the store It's a very nice on the outside and inside. To the point that it is actually nicer then then the GW Nearest to me. There are a lot more Warhammer gamers at The Hobby Store then are at The GW. You have to open up your eyes and see what else you are able to go to or play. Set up a club or something, I just made a board so me and a bunch of my friend can play 40k instead of going to a a store. Sometimes a hobby store is better then GW in many ways such as it being cheaper friendly and not having the constant bugging of the GW store manager trying to get you to buy more stuff. You can Even go to games workshop's website they have a list of hobby stores that are near your area all you need to do is type your state and zip code. I think that's enough said.

Kilkrazy wrote:GW aren’t rolling in money, in fact their profits have been small, non-existent or negative for several years.

The GW recovery plan announced two years ago concentrated on rationalising their retail outlets and improving their stock control by fully computerising it and transferring a lot of ordering to the website.

Rationalising retail means closing stores in areas which do not have high enough footfall to act as recruiting stations, which is the main objective for a GW shop.

Unfortunately it seems your local shop is a victim. Mine was in Richmond (Surrey) a couple of years ago and there have been closures in other parts of the UK.

The other thing you notice is the much smaller range of products on shelves in the shops. There are no specialist games and almost no blister packs any more. The concentration is on boxed sets and hobby supplies. Keen users are expected to order from the website in store or at home, and have the stuff delivered.

I usually have stuff delivered to the shop near where I work, because delivery to the shop is free.

Everything is part of a grand plan.

I get the impression that Americans are less likely than British to play games at home or form clubs and play at community halls. I don’t know if it’s true -- I just hear more from US players about playing in stores as their regular venue.

The point is, when your local store loses and you lose the venue, why not set up a club at school or at your local parish hall or something?

woah a richmond gamer on here, small world eh..
i didnt know that store closed

Cheese Elemental wrote:

H.B.M.C. wrote:So when they raise the prices again next year, they'll have even more money to roll around in.

I can totally imagine Jervis having a big pool of money in his house that he dives into and swims around in, Scrooge McDuck style.

The difference between the two being that the other is a sympathetic, well-loved figure with dedicated fans who's even turned naked avarice into something of a virtue, and the other makes cruddy wargames for a living.

All you have to do is look at it from a business point of view, if a store doesn't make enough profit then kill it and open up a new store somewhere else. Btw Games-workshop is still in debt so i'm still suprised that they still open up new stores.

Kilkrazy wrote:

The point is, when your local store loses and you lose the venue, why not set up a club at school or at your local parish hall or something?

I have no clue why people don't do this.

malfred wrote:

Kilkrazy wrote:The point is, when your local store loses and you lose the venue, why not set up a club at school or at your local parish hall or something?

I have no clue why people don't do this.

Because there are more followers in the world than there are leaders. Running your own club requires you to organize things yourself, gaming at a store doesn't.

True, but how do the clubs work over in other countries?

Are you able to store terrain and things on site?