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So its a sad day for finding pick up games, though it doesn't surprise me a whole lot given the areas economy....

Both the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti store and the Novi Store are apparently closing for good this Sunday.

That means the two GWS stores that are closest to me are closing. It seems odd because both stores were always busy whenever I stopped by, busy enough that sometimes it was hard to get a table.

That takes us down to only 2 stores in our state, and given the fact that GWS is trying to close mall stores I predict only one will be around by the end of this year.

Not having empty tables does not equate to people spending money. Sucks for you though.

Sorry to hear it. GW seems to be writing off certain regions of the United States. All GW stores in Massachusetts closed several years ago. In fact, we have no GW stores in all of New England. The company is pulling back to a regional focus (e.g., lots of stores in the mid-Atlantic, Texas, and very few in the northeast). A real shame, as so many independent FLGSs are also going under.

I dunno, Western Mass is exploding! Go to our LGS on Wednesday nights and you won't be able to get a table! You couldn't say that even a year ago, and we lost a couple stores. But it seems Tabletop Gaming is thriving better than ever now.

The best thing you could do is get a list of your fellow gamers and start a gaming group before the stores close.

Sincity wrote:Not having empty tables does not equate to people spending money. Sucks for you though.

I freely admit I played there rarely as I'm a old fogey and tend to enjoy the LFGS crowds more. The ann arbor store especially was filled with kids, which I thought was great for the hobby, just not great for my gaming tastes.

In fact the website I run is having a free tournament tomorrow with a couple hundred in prizes, ended up having to cap it at 30 people, so the hobby is alive and well, just not the GWS stores.

as long as my local store is ok, i don't really care. But if that store closes, my warhammer stuff goes back into storage and I'm back to WoW full time.

Dez wrote:I dunno, Western Mass is exploding! Go to our LGS on Wednesday nights and you won't be able to get a table! You couldn't say that even a year ago, and we lost a couple stores. But it seems Tabletop Gaming is thriving better than ever now.

I wish I could say the same thing about Eastern Mass!

Dez wrote:
The best thing you could do is get a list of your fellow gamers and start a gaming group before the stores close.

That does seem like the best thing, really.

Some people did that in my area, and their group is thriving, from what I can see.

Oh god, only TWO stores left in your state?! You poor thing! I have NO stores in my state. The closest one is over 300 miles away.

GW could be closing those stores for a lot of reasons. Exorbitant increases in rent, declining sales, no potential for growth... ect. ect.

The one here in PA is rumored to close as well (exorbitant increase in rent). They were going to be shut down back in September I believe, but it got pushed back a few months. Only time will tell what will happen.

Heh we got an email about the Atlanta store "relocating". What they were doing is sending their customers to a LGS which is cool but it is way on the other side of Atlanta when there were 3 stores within 15 miles of the GW heeh. So say good bye to the last GW store in the SE on Jan16th I think it was.

As a regular at the Novi store, I'll be sad to see it go. I think that there are two big problems with the West side of Metro Detroit (where both stores are closing) as far as GW retail is concerned. 1) the economy sucks and 2) there are a few really good FLGSs nearby, one of which (RIW Hobbies) has GW products 25% off all the time!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not hating on GW, in fact I always bought all my stuff from their retail store at full price because I realize that the services they provide aren't free and I'm a very loyal customer. The Novi store is frequently packed but many of the armies on the tables were bought elsewhere for 20-25% off. I'm not trying to demonize those players either, this is a free market and they should buy at the best prices they find. It is what it is.

Our gaming group is busy getting everyone's information together to keep the gaming going (I'm hosting one Saturday night per month) but I will still miss the GW store. I met all those good people in my group at the store and I really don't know how I would've met them otherwise. Also, it was nice to just be able to stop by and see your friends when you had a little time, without the need to plan a big gaming night.

We're all relocating to the previously mentioned RIW Hobbies but I'm afraid it won't be the same. They have a nice big gaming area and an awesome owner who will let us play there late. The big difference is that we have to plan and schedule time to use the space instead of just being able to drop by.

All in all, I'll miss GW Novi and I hope my friends that worked there do well and I'm grateful to have another awesome hobby store so close by. I'm sure the ew store will like us too, I don't want to sound like a braggart, but our group has some heavy-hitters who each spend thousands every year on GW!

Aduro wrote:Oh god, only TWO stores left in your state?! You poor thing! I have NO stores in my state. The closest one is over 300 miles away.

Virginia or Georgia are the closest to me

It's sad too, because I used to be able to go to the Memphis Battle Bunker and get my Forge World stuff right there.

Well, now you cant even get FW at a bunker. I hate not having a GW store withing 3 hours. I have to drive atleast 12 to get to one now.

you are fine...I got no stores in my COUNTRY! And in my city there is only ONE player besides me!

oni wrote:GW could be closing those stores for a lot of reasons. Exorbitant increases in rent, declining sales, no potential for growth... ect. ect.

The one here in PA is rumored to close as well (exorbitant increase in rent). They were going to be shut down back in September I believe, but it got pushed back a few months. Only time will tell what will happen.

Do you mean Franklin Mills?
Antonio has been telling people about the new Cottman shop for over a month
it opens early February I believe

deitpike wrote:

oni wrote:GW could be closing those stores for a lot of reasons. Exorbitant increases in rent, declining sales, no potential for growth... ect. ect.

The one here in PA is rumored to close as well (exorbitant increase in rent). They were going to be shut down back in September I believe, but it got pushed back a few months. Only time will tell what will happen.

Do you mean Franklin Mills?
Antonio has been telling people about the new Cottman shop for over a month
it opens early February I believe

Yes.

Cottman store? Are you referring to Cottman Ave over in Oxford Circle?

Did the GW store over in Charlotte close?

R3Con - There are at least 3 more stores in the greater A2 area. Get You Game On is always trying to get more people to play, and Labyrinth has a more mature crowd that plays all the time. Ryders wanted to start up something about a year ago (and with GW leaving may ramp up their efforts) but I moved about a year ago.

Check out GYGO & Lab.

Warmaster Primus wrote:R3Con - There are at least 3 more stores in the greater A2 area. Get You Game On is always trying to get more people to play, and Labyrinth has a more mature crowd that plays all the time. Ryders wanted to start up something about a year ago (and with GW leaving may ramp up their efforts) but I moved about a year ago.

Check out GYGO & Lab.

Oh I manage to find a game now and then
Just ran into 20+ gamers at riders yesterday.

http://mi40k.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=595

Grot 6 wrote:Did the GW store over in Charlotte close?

Years ago, as far as I knew.

oni wrote:

deitpike wrote:

oni wrote:GW could be closing those stores for a lot of reasons. Exorbitant increases in rent, declining sales, no potential for growth... ect. ect.

The one here in PA is rumored to close as well (exorbitant increase in rent). They were going to be shut down back in September I believe, but it got pushed back a few months. Only time will tell what will happen.

Do you mean Franklin Mills?
Antonio has been telling people about the new Cottman shop for over a month
it opens early February I believe

Yes.

Cottman store? Are you referring to Cottman Ave over in Oxford Circle?

Cottman avenue