Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

 pretre wrote:
Contact landlord who is now out a tenant.
Make a deal.
Open new FLGS...
Profit?

The FB post didn't indicate they were moving out, just reorganizing into a one-man shop. They're probably reducing floorspace for the GW store and having the rest allocated for a new shop or taken over by an existing shop on either side of the GW store.

What Breotan said.

They're basically scrapping the gaming side and dumping all but one of the staff members.

I suppose from a corporate standpoint they'll be making a better profit, as right now they're actually paying for 3 store lots.
They'll definitely be making less sales with the absence of players, but with a lower rent and a few less employees, I can understand why they're doing it.

Shame that I'll have to find a new location to play at though.

One salesman should be enough to serve a small community like .... LOS ANGELES???

Well, to be fair, there are something like 8 GW stores in the Los Angeles area (within 50 miles of the centre of LA), albeit mostly on the edges. Of course, there are also something like 30 independent retailers in the same area.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/storelocator/search.jsp#page=results&radius=50&address=Los%20Angeles%2C%20CA%2C%20USA&latlng=34.052234,-118.243685&showGWS=true&showIndependantRetailers=true

Map's not 100% accurate since it still shows Dragon's Den Games on Sunset, which AFAIK hasn't existed in at least two years.

Love the typical marketing BS:

In order to serve you better we are giving you less.

Just be honest for your reasons and not spew out meaningless drivel,

 pretre wrote:
Contact landlord who is now out a tenant.
Make a deal.
Open new FLGS...
Profit?

"Open a new FLGS" and "Profit" are, sadly, very rarely seen in the same sentence...

What's the old saw? "How do you make a small fortune in gaming"? Start with a large one!

Valete,

JohnS

 Hulksmash wrote:
Seems to be working in Baltimore....

What makes you say that? The old Bunker location was a draw for people all over, even outside of the state.

The new Bunker is, from what I know, much less frequented. I don't even know why they opened it. The old manager of the OLD bunker opened up a new, independent FLGS in the awesome old Bunker location. It's doing quite well, and I don't go into GW stores hardly ever now, and thus don't have to stick to buying their models.

I think the decision to close the Bunker in the Baltimore area, give little to no news of what their plans were, and then suddenly re-open it in the middle of nowhere was really poor decision from a business perspective. Obviously, I don't have their numbers, but the old bunker did tons of business and as I said, was a draw for a huge area.

It's not cheap to start up, then close, then set up new stores either. From everyone I know who posts here OTHER than BrassScorpion, the new Bunker has been a flop and they've taken their business elsewhere. And it can't be to draw in new folks because of its' location.

"GW knowing something I don't" doesn't work for me when I can see with my own eyes the result on the gaming community. Which is, the community is fine, but many people started supporting other companies now that they're playing in independent stores. Great for the hobby, bad for GW.

But they'll stick to their strategy to the bitter end, because they can effectively recruit a few more people into the hobby, while losing the business of the established community. Smart companies realize that you can try to do both, without alienating either group. *Shrug* they'll learn as they lose more and more market share, and again it's good for the hobby/community at large, so I say keep on going

I never went here, not simply because there are closer places, but because the rabid, pushy, aggressive attempts by the staff to sell me as much as possible were tremendously irritating. I won't mourn this loss, though for those who did like to go there for the tournaments/space for gaming, this does kinda suck.

-C6

"you can be assured that you will still have access to the same, great range of Games Workshop product as before"

oh wow, thank god for that, one cant possibly get these anywhere else. Oh well I guess yet another group of gamers will learn the joys of internet discounts

As I posted above (rather long-windedly) though, it could actually be a good thing for the community. Turn to an independent store, open up horizons to new gaming, and let the days of being able to Only use GW models/rules/products lay behind you

There's a wide world of miniature collecting out there, and GW is shoving their fan-base out into it

 catharsix wrote:
I never went here, not simply because there are closer places, but because the rabid, pushy, aggressive attempts by the staff to sell me as much as possible were tremendously irritating. I won't mourn this loss, though for those who did like to go there for the tournaments/space for gaming, this does kinda suck.

-C6

I went there a few times. But I was usually ignored after they realized I wasn't interested in buying anything and just wanted to get in on a game. Actually, it seemed like if you weren't a regular they treated you like a nobody.

Sympathies for those that enjoyed the space.

 azgrim wrote:
If im understaning this right ,there will be alot of displaced bunker regulars ,but where will you all go?

There's a store called Mercenary Market about 10 miles down the freeway which should benefit from the Bunker losing its gaming space. Otherwise game stores (with dedicated space) in O.C. are rather limited. The Realm is great, but would be quite a drive for most Bunker regulars.

@RiTides

Take a breath buddy. I was referring to Pretre's comment about renting the same spot and opening a FLGS. As I'd heard that's what the previous Baltimore Bunker manager did and the store is doing well. Could be wrong, I obviously don't live in the area

And so the war gaming desert that is the south bay area continues to grow.

I hope a gaming club or store opens up soon in the immediate Torrance area.

Can't wait until those idiots realize that its the gaming space that gets the income. More time spent in store = dwindling self control. That's how it was at my GW. Fired the manager for not being a cut throat business man, cut tables in half reopened. Curiously, 2 managers later they put tables back. Gee, wonder why.

On a side note, I imagine we will be seeing a lot more "reopening" bunkers as Emperor I mean CEO/Chairman Kirby gains complete control

Well this is unfortunate news. My friends and I just started going to the bunker in September and have enjoyed the staff and regulars there.

Does Brookhurst Hobbies have table space or is it just a retailer?

 DarkTraveler777 wrote:
Well this is unfortunate news. My friends and I just started going to the bunker in September and have enjoyed the staff and regulars there.

Does Brookhurst Hobbies have table space or is it just a retailer?

If I recall they have a table or two at the front of the store (not sure in the back) but every time i go some one is playing something on it.

With the amount of internet discount retailers are folks really surprised at the down sizing of brick and mortar and one man stores?

 Breotan wrote:
Posted to Facebook:

So, what do you guys think?

Does this mean Yvette will be the only employee there? Or is Drew finally getting that promotion he wanted, monkey's paw-style?

Frankly, I think this is a fairly self-destructive move on GW's part, although I admit I have no idea how much they were taking in versus the rent. Brookhurst Hobbies is 10 minutes away, offers a discount (only 10% now, due to economic troubles, although they do have many sales), and has room for gaming. They also have a huge aisle of Warmahordes, Dust, Infinity and Malifaux between the door/POS and the GW items. The battle bunker used to be much busier than BH, but I can't see the crowd paying full retail without the draw of gaming tables and painting space.

Unfortunately, I think this will hurt the local gaming scene, too. The battle bunker was very friendly and inviting, and according to my wife, far less creepy. (Although still kind of creepy.)

 Byte wrote:
With the amount of internet discount retailers are folks really surprised at the down sizing of brick and mortar and one man stores?

No...and yes.

One of the things which GW always uses to provide cause for their pricing (as well as GW supporters) is that they provide a popular game that is easily accessible through their stores. Dropping to one man stores works against that claim.

nickthewise wrote:

There's a store called Mercenary Market about 10 miles down the freeway which should benefit from the Bunker losing its gaming space. Otherwise game stores (with dedicated space) in O.C. are rather limited. The Realm is great, but would be quite a drive for most Bunker regulars.

I've never been to mercenary market how is the crowd there?What is the best day for random gaming?Do they ever run tournaments?

Sad news. I just started playing 40k last year and the major appeal for me was that there was gaming space. I just started a skaven army that will probably only see a few games. I can't see the one man shop working out that well, because you can get the same product cheaper and just as easy elsewhere. The ONLY reason I bought things from the BattleBunker was to support the gaming space. I gladly pay 10%+ more for the same product because I felt I needed to support the store. Now if the gaming area is gone there is no reason to go there. It is easier for me to go to say Brookhurst hobbies and buy all the same product + get any materials I need and get a 10% discount on everything. I do not see how the one man GW will possibly survive.

I am very curious to find out where the bunker regulars are going to go.

I think rent in LA is rediculous

Could not find Mercenary Market anywhere. I have been to the Realm before but it has always been a ghost town in terms of table space.
Good friends with people from Brookhurst but they just dont have GW gaming that often.
I grew up the the war house, but their space is super limited, and the last time I was there it was yugioh and other card games on sat/sunday nights. May have to see if there is a local gaming group in the area if the trip to Pasadena is too much/the crowd there is too elitist for me.

 azgrim wrote:

nickthewise wrote:

There's a store called Mercenary Market about 10 miles down the freeway which should benefit from the Bunker losing its gaming space. Otherwise game stores (with dedicated space) in O.C. are rather limited. The Realm is great, but would be quite a drive for most Bunker regulars.

I've never been to mercenary market how is the crowd there?What is the best day for random gaming?Do they ever run tournaments?

I've been there a few times, and the folks are really nice, it's spacious, a ton of terrain, and some regular gaming nights (GW, PP, and more).

I'd definitely recommend it. I've been going there rather than the other nearby GW store in Tustin (with just two tables).

-C6

 catharsix wrote:

 azgrim wrote:

nickthewise wrote:

There's a store called Mercenary Market about 10 miles down the freeway which should benefit from the Bunker losing its gaming space. Otherwise game stores (with dedicated space) in O.C. are rather limited. The Realm is great, but would be quite a drive for most Bunker regulars.

I've never been to mercenary market how is the crowd there?What is the best day for random gaming?Do they ever run tournaments?

I've been there a few times, and the folks are really nice, it's spacious, a ton of terrain, and some regular gaming nights (GW, PP, and more).

I'd definitely recommend it. I've been going there rather than the other nearby GW store in Tustin (with just two tables).

-C6

I've actually never been, but everyone who has recommends it. I think they have run at least one 40k tournament before, but I don't get the feeling they do it regularly.

Web-site: http://www.mercenary-market.com/

WellI live in Northern California up in Sacramento we have great escape games to play at. I see a lot of posts about getting product cheaper etc. My two cents is support your local game store as we all need a place to play. If you buy all your stuff online soon there will be no more places to play. I also like fostering the game commuinity.. Enjoy the games

DarkTraveler777 wrote:Well this is unfortunate news. My friends and I just started going to the bunker in September and have enjoyed the staff and regulars there.

Does Brookhurst Hobbies have table space or is it just a retailer?

Brookhurst has hardly any tables. 2 tables in the front that are usually cluttered with items that still need to be stocked. Regardless of their gaming space, the store is going to benefit greatly from this. I know a lot of people (myself included) who would occasionally buy a lot of stuff at the Bunker for the sake of "helping out" since they allowed the free gaming space. Now that that's gone... well... I like my Brookhurst discount.

BobtheInquisitor wrote:

 Breotan wrote:
Posted to Facebook:

So, what do you guys think?

Does this mean Yvette will be the only employee there? Or is Drew finally getting that promotion he wanted, monkey's paw-style?

Frankly, I think this is a fairly self-destructive move on GW's part, although I admit I have no idea how much they were taking in versus the rent. Brookhurst Hobbies is 10 minutes away, offers a discount (only 10% now, due to economic troubles, although they do have many sales), and has room for gaming. They also have a huge aisle of Warmahordes, Dust, Infinity and Malifaux between the door/POS and the GW items. The battle bunker used to be much busier than BH, but I can't see the crowd paying full retail without the draw of gaming tables and painting space.

Unfortunately, I think this will hurt the local gaming scene, too. The battle bunker was very friendly and inviting, and according to my wife, far less creepy. (Although still kind of creepy.)

Drew hasn't been an employee at the Bunker for quite a while. I believe he got moved to being a manager at one of the one man stores in the area.

I heard that the LA Bunker was supposed to be huge. Sad to see it go. I hope this isn't a sign of what might happen to the Seattle Bunker.

I heard that all the remaining bunkers (except Memphis) are likely to disappear once their leases are up. To my knowledge, none of them generate an actual profit. I also expect a lot of the smaller shops in crowded (by other GW stores) areas like Seattle or LA to pull up stakes once they become unprofitable.