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Hello
Sad News Ya'll. Another store has fallen in Maryland. The store in Westminster, MD is closing due to the price hike of the rent of the location they are in.

Anyone looking for a new store I suggest to try theGames Workshop@ St. Thomas http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/storelocator/search.jsp#page=details&id=5400064a&showGWS=true" target="_new" rel="nofollow"> http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/storelocator/search.jsp#page=details&id=5400064a&showGWS=true.

The manager is Dave. Nice guy and is always willing to help you with your modeling, painting, and army questions whether it is Fantasy, 40k, and/or LOTRs.

Currently he is Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
9902 Reisterstown Road
Owings Mills
MD
21117
US
410-998-9223
You can also look them up on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/GWStThomas

I think I went in that store once while looking for paint and deciding to head North instead of South.

Not a bad store (assuming I disable my standard smug, self-centered, anti-GW sentiment). Looked active, had a class going on as well as a game or two being played, albeit on small tables.

Unfortunately the rest of the mall looked a bit desolate. Admittedly, I think I visited on a morning, but the Rockville-area malls are pretty active even in the morning. I'm guessing this didn't help the 'halo' of sales as players can come to the mall with parents/souses/children and let them deal with other shopping.

I'm surprised there's no GW store in Rockville, actually. It's a pretty affluent area, Dream Wizards has done good business for decades, etc. Westminster is a bit more remote, although not exactly the boonies...

I think they placed stores based on population in the area. But they have been closing several stores in the Maryland area because of refusing to pay the higher rent or move.

The closing was expected. The rumors are that St. Thomas GW is slated to be closed when its lease is up, and that the White Marsh GW store will be relocated to Dundalk.

Hopefully this will make some room in the marketplace for some FLGS.

It is sad to hear about a FLGS goying down... The dream of man has probably been shatered to pieces, and another free place for gaming have gone.

so whats the official closing date for the Wesminster store

@ Absolon - Near the end of August.

Didn't Hear about St. Thomas closing.

Dundalk? OH GOD! Playing Warhammer with the smell of Poop in the air, wonderful.

For those that don't know Dundalk, MD. has a poop processing plant that looks like two golden footballs ready for kickoff.

If you've never lived there, you don't get to make fun of it.

Leave my golden gak domes alone.

LOL. I have lived close enough Middle River. Besides it is still Dundalk's until next football game.

You lot arent that far away from me actually. I tend to play in elkton and Newark DE. OwingsMills is just on the other side of towson if i remember correctly.

I've been to the westminster store one time and it was empty. That mall is dead, they'd be better off going to hunt valley, eldersburg, catonsville maybe. Westminster is just too far out for most people. I go to the St. Thomas store and Dave is great guy, always there to help. He has 3 tables and the store is always packed, he has tournaments there a couple times a year and it will bring in 20 or so players. I hope to God it doesn't close as it's a 5-10 minute drive from my house, hell it just opened a year or 2 ago. I go to the avenue a lot w/ my wife and that store is kind of hit and miss I've seen all the tables filled and it empty at times too. Not very convenient as far as parking goes and a little smaller store too. Not sure why these property owners are raising rent, there is storefront available all over, you'd think it be cheaper. The bunker is nice but it's a hike from Baltimore. Recently went to Dropzone in Glen Burnie, very nice store, lots of table, etc. Caters to all kinds of table top games not just GW. Very nice painting area, but for me it's an hour drive in traffic most nights after work.

As quoted directly from the Facebook page...

"Games Workshop: Town Mall of Westminster
August 26th - The Town Mall of Westminster Hobby Center will close it's doors for the last time on Sunday, August 26th. You are invited to stop in and celebrate the many shared battles and pinnacle moments that have taken place at the store! Fear not - there are other stores close at hand such as the Games Workshop - St. Thomas
and the Games Workshop - Columbia Palace Hobby Center.

Find out what events are coming up at the nearby stores on their Facebook pages!"

This is no big surprise, since GW seems to prefer the one man stores in strip malls. It let's them set their store hours independently of the mall and be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

It sucks to lose another store, but capitalism rules here. This store will just be reopened in an area without a GW store...somewhere like Sioux City, IA...you get the idea.

I heard the rumor about the St. Thomas store closing and moving of the White Marsh store from a long time player. There was also a posting about it on dakka.

White Marsh has been a cash cow for GW. The problem is the rent is very high. The rumor is that GW does not like the rent and is looking to relocate. This goes along with GWs philosophy that location does not matter, and that advertising is unnecessary. The Dundalk rumor started because they had a posting for a manager position in Dundalk on career builder. I just checked the site today, and there is no such position posted there at this time.

It was my understanding that St. Thomas was just not bringing in enough money. GW closes underperforming stores.

Another factor in the closing of the Westminster store may be the frequent change in managers.

spaceelf wrote:The closing was expected. The rumors are that St. Thomas GW is slated to be closed when its lease is up, and that the White Marsh GW store will be relocated to Dundalk.

Hopefully this will make some room in the marketplace for some FLGS.

You have a Dundalk in the US? Holy feth!

Smolo82 wrote:LOL. I have lived close enough Middle River. Besides it is still Dundalk's until next football game.

I love that I get this reference . Dundalk vs... what was it... Essex, or something?

If a store moves into the Dundalk area, would it be at all close to the old Bunker (now Dropzone Games)?

I'm very happy about Dropzone Games, and almost wish they would relocate the Columbia GW (except that the manager's a nice guy... maybe he'd move with it) so that an independent FLGS could open somewhat closer. Right now, being in Columbia the only Independent stores I can reach are Dream Wizards just north of DC, and Dropzone Games.

Are there any I'm missing? I know there's also a few things in Frederick, MD, but they're not big for gaming-in-store from what I've seen (unlike DW and Dropzone).

Well there aren't really many places to play really. I have gone to White Marsh since I live closer to it but the parking sucks ass. Legends is meh. Collectors corner is small and only has 1 table. I go to the St. Thomas because Dave is cool and my bro and some friends go there as well. Dave is really the only reason I buy my models at his store instead of saving money online. Although I did tell him I cheated on him and spent $10 on a HE book. Too good a deal to pass up really. Sales wise for them though I think it really depends now that the 6th is out people will have a better understanding of what to buy instead of waiting. I mean my GK have not had arms for like 3 months.

A store in Dundalk. Bwahahahahahaha.

Legends doesn't have gaming anymore since Randy moved to the new location. That is, miniatures gaming. At one point Legends was the best place to game outside of the old GB Bunker, and even then, I'd be hard pressed to choose between the two. It had a great community, better food choices, a great staff and overall was just a fun place to hang out.

Collector's Corner....I'd be too afraid of my car being towed, or being mugged walking to the store.

At least I have Crit Hit for now.

There is also Games N Stuff in Glen Burnie.

Unfortunately, most of the stores in the area have either eliminated gaming tables, or only put them up for special events.

The real advantage of a store over gaming at home is being able to get a pick up game. A store needs to have a place to hang prior to such a game, or people will not stick around long enough to get a game.

That's why Dropzone is insane- the amount of space they got, for apparently not much rent... wow.

It's just a shame it's a bit of a drive, but well worth it if they do weekend events, for me...

the store in bloomingdale IL just went down too. Hard times.

Keith,

Go to dropzone. You won't be disappointed.

I checked out Dropzone - it's very nice. Comfy painting stations with nice chairs - huge retail space with room to expand. It's out in the middle of nowhere (as far as I'm concerned) but it's got a comprehensive selection of goodies across all lines.

A link to DropZone Games to their FB and their website.

http://www.dropzone-games.com/

https://www.facebook.com/DropZoneGames

For those that know what I am talking about.

Dangit! Thats the store I go to. Guess I get to start driving down to Columbia or Bowie now...

streamdragon wrote:Dangit! Thats the store I go to. Guess I get to start driving down to Columbia or Bowie now...

I would give the GW in Olney a shot. Good group, fairly friendly, not too many power gamers (every store has 'em) plus Josh is a really good guy! Depending where you live in Westminster, it just a straight shot down 97 and a left turn before you hit 108.
Hope this helps!

Im actually in Sykesville not Westminster so that might work okay...

Edit: that might be the store Im thinking is in Columbia if it is in with a subway and a dunkin donuts...

Local Marylander here--while I'm sad to see Westminster go, I emphatically recommend GW St. Thomas and Games n' Stuff in Glen Burnie.

St. Thomas is the best GW store I've been to. Dave is a great, levelheaded guy who doesn't push the hard sell the way other GW managers do. He's cultivated a gaming community of good people and looks out for his friends. Anyone who goes there will be well taken care of.

Games n' Stuff is an AWESOME store; their terrain in particular is top notch, they have 4 x 6 boards in case their tables are occupied, the staff is wonderful, they carry excellent GF9 and other third party stock, and have ample free parking.

There is a Dunkin Donuts in the parking lot....
The Gw store is next to a place called "Pho Grill" and a "Cheeseburger Cheeseburger". It is a big "u" shaped strip mall.

Streamdragon, how is that little store in Eldarsburg, next to the Japanese place?

No 40k/WHFB community to speak of. It is mostly CCGs and pen and paper RPGs as far as I have seen. Comics too obviously. I do admit I've only been a few times during peakest hours but when I asked about getting a White Dwarf the owner said he didn't stock GW because no one plays.

I was pretty excited when I saw that place going in, but unfortunately remain unimpressed.

The japanese place though, has some of the best sushi I have ever had.

Edit: heehee Eldarsburg...