Quote from: VellorianThere is an LGS just up the road from me that I think may have figured out a great way to serve their clients.  They have 80% of their store devoted to tables.  They charge a nominal fee to use a table (I think it's $5 for a few hours and $10 for the day).  They sell various products, mostly cards, clix and dice.  They have two "bankers boxes" with RPGs in them.  This is not their primary business.

They have a clean bathroom, three vending machines and a bike-rack to lock up your bikes.

Every night that place is packed out!  Yeah, it's mostly local neighbor kids playing cards.  But I did a quick calculation...

25 tables @ $10 = $250 a day in gross profit (presuming an all-day rental or two 3 hour sessions).

I was there for an hour and saw twelve kids get a soda (20oz / $1.25) and a bag of chips or a candybar ($.75).  That's another $10+ in an hour.  (Figure they make $.75 on the soda and $.25 on the candybar)

If he sells nothing else, then he makes $300 a day in gross profit.  If he sells some cards, some figures, some dice, then he'll make more.  (Considering I saw him sell two packs of some kind of cards and a booster of Star Wars figures in that hour, I know he's doing other business, too.)

It's an LGS that couldn't give a flying flip about RPGs or the three-tier system.

He's making a cool living selling table space and providing a safe, social environment to kids with 100% disposable incomes.

That does sound like a sweet deal for the owner. Game Empire in San Diego has a really large room with tables - for minis and regular long folding tables - a clean bathroom, and vending machines, as well as bookshelves filled with various board games that can be played by anyone at the store. I don't know if they charge for table time. Still, the place is packed Friday and Saturday night (they're open until 11 PM), both at the tables and in the game shop section.

That does sound like one hell of a game store.  

It's the kind of store I wish we had, but mine's not too bad.  

I think game stores are an important thing.  They do serve as social centers, mine even has a cork wall devoted to advertisements of gamers looking for games.  It hosts many different card and miniatures nights, and has a big open gaming space.

The adverts are what made me really like the store.  There's a form specifically made for the purpose of finding new gamers.  I've used them myself on occasion, but mostly without success.

σ <-- As a side note, my cat stepped on the keyboard and made this symbol.

Quote from: joewolzσ <-- As a side note, my cat stepped on the keyboard and made this symbol.

Isn't that a lower-case beta?

Quote from: VellorianHe's making a cool living selling table space and providing a safe, social environment to kids with 100% disposable incomes.

What an interesting business model!  It's basically an Internet Cafe with gaming tables instead of computers

Quote from: VellorianIsn't that a lower-case beta?

Sigma.

Our FLGS closed down earlier this year because the landlord hiked up the rent.

I get some, small, satisfaction from the fact that the shop is still vacant six months later.

Didn't seem to have the problem of subhuman freaks using it as a hangout, but could have done with a higher customer base.

V.

Quote from: Hastur T. FannonWhat an interesting business model!  It's basically an Internet Cafe with gaming tables instead of computers

Indeed, and I think I'd be willing to shell out for something like that, depending on the group that I was a part of, and what the groups housing situation was.

Quote from: mearlsI'm sort of in LGS withdrawal. I had an awesome store in Boston (Pandemonium Books & Games) and I miss having a place to go and browse through SF books and gaming stuff.

Pandemonium was awesome and is now even more so. They've moved to Central Square into a much bigger site, and now have a gaming area.

-mice

Quote from: ColonelHardissonThat does sound like a sweet deal for the owner. Game Empire in San Diego has a really large room with tables - for minis and regular long folding tables - a clean bathroom, and vending machines, as well as bookshelves filled with various board games that can be played by anyone at the store. I don't know if they charge for table time. Still, the place is packed Friday and Saturday night (they're open until 11 PM), both at the tables and in the game shop section.

I miss Game Empire.

Quote from: ergeheilaltI miss Game Empire.

Me too. I make a point of going there when I'm back in San Diego, and over to Mysterious Galaxy if it's early enough.

Alhtough I don't really hang out there (or in any Game Store for that matter), Game Empire here in San Diego is always crazy busy. They do have a subscription thingy there, but it's for use of the "house armies" and terrain for Warhammer (and 40k). Game Towne also has an open but less popular game room.

There's far too many weird-beards and young teens that frequent the gaming rooms for me. But it's a great place when you want to pick up an indy RPG book when Border's doesn't have it or Game Towne is closed. They have a pretty nice selction of Used/Old School books as well.

BTW have you ever been to Game Towne (in Old Town), I also like that place quite a lot. It's smaller and quiter (which is a plus for me, I hate hearing people yelling at each other about comic books or how "that Dragons in DnD are not Realistic"). The staff is knowledgeable, and they have more games on display. The only bother about it is it closes way early (5 on sundays, 6 on weekdays/weekends, they keep the game room open on weekends a little later though).

I would be sad if my LGS closed, simply for the instant gratification factor. I can go out and buy a copy of Kobolds ate my Babies RIGHT NOW and play it tonight! You can't do that over the internet.

Quote from: RPGPunditThe only aspect that LGS have that has not yet been reproduced elsewhere is the aspect of LGS as a local gamer focus point for networking. And frankly, LGS suck ass for that. Its just that often, the LGS is the ONLY place you can find other gamers, connect to play campaigns, etc.

RPGPundit

To be honest, a good RPG listing site (and I have yet to find one that I consider intuitive for finding gamers.

Because you consider this:  If there is a FLGS on one end of the town and another on the other side, a person may check the boards at one FLGS and not the other.   A good site for listing people looking for games and for players could reach all the people (even some who may not go into FLGS) and help people find players better.

Quote from: ColonelHardissonI think game shops serve a valuable purpose. They encourage socialization, which God knows a lot of gamers need to experience and learn from. Humans are a social animal, and it's healthy for them to get together and hobnob with new people on occasion.

Well first, I have never met anyone who learned gaming from a gamestore.   All the gamers I know were introduced to the hobby by other gamers.   As for socialization, I can get together with my friends and hang out, game.   What do I need a game store for?

Quote from: ColonelHardissonSo, I don't think we need to move beyond the LGS. We just need to be more discriminating in the places we patronize, and the ones that suck will die off and the ones that don't will stay around. I think one of the main problems is that gamers seem willing to put up with a lot of bullshit, whether from game shops or game companies. That kind of attitude is what needs to change.

I disagree.  I think that game stores and the function they provide is obsolete.  You can get games online for cheap.   There are sites where you can find other games (Better then what most game stores do for gamers).

I think the days of the FLGS are over.   I have two good ones near me but I buy my stuff online?  Why?  It is cheaper to buy online and I simply dont need to visit them.

Quote from: KrakaJakAlhtough I don't really hang out there (or in any Game Store for that matter), Game Empire here in San Diego is always crazy busy. They do have a subscription thingy there, but it's for use of the "house armies" and terrain for Warhammer (and 40k). Game Towne also has an open but less popular game room.

There's far too many weird-beards and young teens that frequent the gaming rooms for me. But it's a great place when you want to pick up an indy RPG book when Border's doesn't have it or Game Towne is closed. They have a pretty nice selction of Used/Old School books as well.

You're right about Game Empire. It's not really a hang-out type of place, more like the type of place to go in, browse, and buy a book. Unless one is playing a game in the game room. But the staff is pretty cool.

Quote from: KrakaJakBTW have you ever been to Game Towne (in Old Town), I also like that place quite a lot. It's smaller and quiter (which is a plus for me, I hate hearing people yelling at each other about comic books or how "that Dragons in DnD are not Realistic"). The staff is knowledgeable, and they have more games on display. The only bother about it is it closes way early (5 on sundays, 6 on weekdays/weekends, they keep the game room open on weekends a little later though).

Sure, I've been there. It was actually closer to where I lived in San Diego. I have to admit I didn't go there often. It has a great selection of all types of games, not just RPGs. It just didn't often have the kind of stuff I was looking for. But it's a good store.

Quote from: Geek MessiahWell first, I have never met anyone who learned gaming from a gamestore.

I didn't learn to game at a game store either. But that could be more due to the fact I began gaming in 1979, and there weren't any real game stores in my area.

Quote from: Geek MessiahAll the gamers I know were introduced to the hobby by other gamers.

OK, most of them I know got into the same way. But that's just anecdotal.

Quote from: Geek MessiahAs for socialization, I can get together with my friends and hang out, game.   What do I need a game store for?

I get the feeling that the younger one is, the easier it is to say something like that. Sometimes it's tough for everyone to just go and hang out at one person's place. Some may not have the space, others may have a spouse or significant other that doesn't like having a crowd over just because their husband/wife wants to hang out and shoot the shit. Plus, finding a centrally located place to game can be a factor.

The owner of a store I used to go to asked me to get into a campaign he was running. Most of the players were people in their late 20s and into their mid 30s. Sessions were Wednesdays from 6 to 9 PM. One of the guys was married, had kids, and encapsulated exactly why many people would find gaming at the store attractive - "I just wanna get the fuck outta the house!"

Another factor is that people who actually move to new areas are helped in finding new groups to game with via a store. Establishing a new circle of friends - and finding new friends that actually have an interest in gaming - can be tough. Yeah, I'm sure someone will counter with the internet being a place to find a group, but the game shop gives a neutral place to game and get to know what people are like. Who wants to invite strangers to one's home before getting to know them? What other venue provides one with a ready-made place to game? Libraries generally require a certain level of quietness. Most mainstream bookstores, restaurants, or what-have-you don't allow people to just come in and game.

Quote from: Geek MessiahI disagree.  I think that game stores and the function they provide is obsolete.  You can get games online for cheap.   There are sites where you can find other games (Better then what most game stores do for gamers).

I think the days of the FLGS are over.   I have two good ones near me but I buy my stuff online?  Why?  It is cheaper to buy online and I simply dont need to visit them.

Saying the game store is obsolete may be easy if one has never moved from where one was born and raised, but it seems rather myopic to do so. Things change, people move, spouses object, the internet doesn't provide a neautral place to meet with new people, etc.

Quote from: ColonelHardissonSaying the game store is obsolete may be easy if one has never moved from where one was born and raised, but it seems rather myopic to do so. Things change, people move, spouses object, the internet doesn't provide a neautral place to meet with new people, etc.

Not true at all.  I met a group that I gamed with (Until I moved, schedules conflicted, etc) in person and we all get together from talking on a website forum.    

When we gamed we had a really good time and it was sad that things fell apart (actually one person moved away).

As for someone who has never moved from where they were born, couldnt tell you what that is like.   I was born on the west coast and I am now on the east coast, moving many times.