I forgot to mention that they also sell miniatures games and have game nights catering to them.

For travellers: Cary is an suburb of Raleigh.

Web address (with map): http://www.allfunngames.com/

WHatever that place in Bella Botega is called (Games & Gizmos? It changed names a while ago) has a vastly superior selection. Given the full retail prices at both, the only reason to go to Uncles is out of boredom if at Redmond Town Center with nothing to do. Of course, with no less than 2 online boardgame suppliers in the local area (i.e. free pickup, not to mention other suppliers with free shipping), it's hard for me to imagine paying almost double just to support a local retailer, but that has been discussed to death elsewhere.

Games & Gizmos is good too! I don't know if Coyote Games in Redmond is still open, but I like the 'small game store' feel it has (had?) I showed up to a Game Designers Night at Coyote and played some card games a friend and I had created. While I was there the staff really impressed me with how they treated the customers that came in.

Uncle's, Games & Gizmos, and Coyote Games are all very good, very different stores all within a couple of miles of each other. Uncle's caters to a more casual gaming crowd as you would expect from a mall store, G&G has a huge gaming, suitable for large card and miniatures tournaments, and Coyote (if still alive) felt more like a hangout...in a good way.

-Adam!!!

While I live in Tacoma, my in-laws are right down the street from the Spokane Valley Uncle's Games.

The Spokane Valley Mall Uncles Games has a better selection than any other game store I've ever seen. They have 3x the floor size of the Bellevue store, and have everything from the 843rd themed version of Monopoly to new smaller publishers' games to hardcore strategy and expansions to Axis and Allies and D&D miniatures games... They have hundreds of puzzles and almost any currently published game I'm familiar with. Their prices tend to be at or just below MSRP, but have a large clearance section, many sales and promotions. Their staff knows their stuff and are very helpful and friendly, whether they're selling a lame party game or puzzle or an expansion to Arkham Horror.

I have a local games store that I try and support here in Tacoma, but every time I go to Spokane, I make sure to stop by Uncles and I never manage to leave without spending money.

And used games! Good for trading in games that aren't worth the trouble of putting on eBay...

Ooops! Forgot the phone number.

It is 916-483-6885.

They also have a big open gaming area.

I agree. Extraordinary inventory, divvied up by wargames, German games, American fantasy board games, collectible miniatures, non-collectible miniature-based tactical games (e.g., Warhammer, Battletech), and RPG's.

Rainy Day Games is my all time favorite game store. Ever since I moved to the OC, life just been full of sun. How I miss the rain!

The vast majority of my purchases are now done online, but when there's a game I just can't wait for, Rainy Day gets my business.

What a shame. That place sounded amazing...

* Private gaming room with lockers for storage of games and miniatures.
* Java Cafe with all sorts of goodies
* 20 gaming tables with terrain
* Painting classes
* 55" HDTV in the lounge
* etc...

Wow.

Yeah, it broke a lot of hearts when it closed last week. This is a pretty high stress high burnout economy around here, and it was a great place to escape it all for a few hours. The owners were terrific people to chat with about games, movies, etc. Sigh. Maybe it will make a comeback in a couple of years.

The guy who runs this place is almost blind. I have a lot of respect for him, running a business with his handicap. His computer reads the bar code and then says the price in a emotionless robot voice. Besides that, he is also a very nice guy and you can spend hours in his shop talking to him about all things in life including boardgames. I always feel bad if I haven't bought anything from him.

This is a great little shop. You couldn't ask for a nicer guy. The last time I was there, I got some CCG packs that were on ebay for around $7 each. He was selling them for retail.

Too bad it's such a small shop, they only had one talbe to play on last time I was there.

I went to this store looking for a war game to share with an older relative of mine, a retired military aircraft mechanic with a thing for the WWII Pacific Theater. Even after doing some research at this web site I wasn't sure what to get, so when I went into this small, well kept, brightly lit and densely stocked store I took it as a sign that literally the first thing I saw through the glass front door was the full top cover of Flat Top, 1977 Avalon Hill.

At 1200 pieces it might be a terribly complex choice for a board game novice who hasn't moved a game piece in his life without using a mouse. I have no idea where to set it up, I have no idea where I'm going to find time to read the instruction manual, let alone puzzle through a ten phase turn, and I really have no idea how to stop the dog from wreaking nuclear-style annihilation on the Pacific three years early, but I'm going to try because it was a sign.

Anyway, the shop was nice, bright, clean, not intimidatingly geeky, and apparently well stocked. It was also surprisingly easy to find given that I was looking for it on the wrong side of the street. The owner or cashier guy was just as pleasant and not quite as as blind as previously mentioned, recognizing the game cover after a close look and then relaying to me the game's history, out-of-printness, and sudden availability subsequent to the purchase of the publisher's back stock.

I never had much luck with Game Crossing. I can definitely vouch for Game Night Games though. The store is wonderful (and the owners are nice people too).

I've moved out of state a year ago, did Hastur kick the bucket or something?

I have to say that I like Game Night Games the best out of all of the places that I have been. The "pay to play" cost is only on Fri and Sat nights and if you join the Gamers advantage program, which the price has recently been decreased, the cost is waived plus you get a great discount on all of your game purchases in addition to all of the great sales and pre-order discounts. There are plenty of places that you can play CCG and such which is one more reason that I like GNG.

My favorite thing about GC as opposed to GNG is that it is much easier to get non-Euro games onto the table at Game Crossing. People are always up for a fun game of Nexus Ops or Duel of Ages or other non-Euro titles. There seems to be a much more serious group at GNG. The one time I brought Duel of Ages I got crickets. For me, Euro games are much more of a mood thing so I end up going to Game Crossing more. GNG is a much better store from a game selection and gaming knowledge standpoint. GC has more events more frequently (PR tournament on Sat. Dec 10, 2005) than GNG as well. Basically, there's a store for whatever type of gamer you are. Something that I was surprised to find when I moved here.

Actually, there are quite a few people who prefer non-euro games at GNG...Myself, for one. In fact, both Paul and Gary, who posted above, play wargames. I do wargames, and obviously, FFG stuff, as well as some euros. Pretty diverse crowd overall.

GNG will also post a game event on their website if anyone asks them to and people can join the game via the website. Demoing/running a game of your choice is very encouraged. Euro-games are very impromptu and easy to play on a whim, so they do get the most play.

Oh, probably predictably, no wargames. I think I've seen Memoir '44 there but couldn't swear to it.

That's ok, I was mostly just hoping for an address.

its' 5536 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20015
ph- 202-364-5363

not like you couldn't totally get that from the website. And, this review is so sweet, it has brought a tear to my eye. Thanks Sue!

No no. i was entirely incorrect. that was actually my home phone number. the number to the STORE is 202-244-3602. I am So Smart. S-M-R-T!

Thanks for the address. I will be sure to stop by for a little bit of last minute christmas shopping.

For those of you in the REAL east TN (ie, the Tri-Cities), check out Nord's in the Johnson City Mall.