What is it?

So let me start with a brief description of what I think a gaming hobby shop is and then I will move on to some of my ideas on what I would like to be able to create in our community.

A gaming hobby shop is a place where you can purchase and more importantly are able play games in several categories: collectible card games (e.g. Magic: The gathering), table top war games (e.g. Warhammer 40k), board games (e.g. Game of Thrones), role-playing games (e.g. Dungeons and Dragons) and many, many more. These places should have associates that are knowledgeable and passionate around these types of games.

In my version of a gaming hobby shop there would also be a place for PC and Console gamers. I would also have a large focus on competitions such as tournaments for games that support them, painting competitions where the community judges how well you have painted an army, and MMO based competitions with different goals based on the MMO.

In my idea of a perfect setup there would be a great room where players were able to play all sorts of games in public view, along with a couple of lan rooms (console and pc) with a window so you could see the fun, but not be distracted by the potential noise. There would be semi-private rooms for people who want to have a quite place to play (mostly for role playing games).

A place to paint, for table top gamers, with different types of clamps and holders. We would also have a selection of in house terrain so that they don't have to bring their own.

As far as selection, I would like to keep popular games on hand, along with comics, and RPG books. If there is enough space and a suitable vendor fantasy novels would be an awesome addition.

The goal would be to create a place where you can not only play your favorite games but come to learn about games that may be new or foreign to you and unlock some amazing experiences with friends.

I am doing my best to be brief with these posts. I am not going into as much detail as I normally would or writing for as long as I could, so what I am asking for is your ideas and comments - also please tell your friends if you live in or around Kankakee County.

I would like to get some traction before trying to get this project funded.

Thanks,

-Mike

Letter of intent

For far too long we, the gamers, in this community have sat without a place that allows use to come together and embrace our favorite games. For far too long we have been crammed into restaurants, basements, or worse to be able to enjoy a simple game of Magic, or DnD, or Warhammer, or Vampire, (the list of games goes on too long to continue or do it justice here). There are many more of us have stopped playing, for lack of a place that will allow it, or a community to support it and this may be the greatest injustice of all.

My intent it is to create a place that supports all gamers whether they be dice chuckers, card floppers, keyboard smashers, or any type unmentioned. I want to create a place where being called a Geek or a Nerd is a badge of honor. A place where knowing too much about the Green Lantern, or Spider-man, or The Watchmen isn't possible. A place where it is okay to spend 2 hours debating which Star Wars bounty hunter was the best or which Star Fleet captain. A place where your entire guild can get together and raid in one place...

In the coming posts I will further explore what I want to do, and how we can make this happen as a community. The only thing I am asking at this point is to keep your ears open and maybe tell your friends.