With both kids at the Atlantic City Girls Basketball Showcase last weekend in Atlantic City, I got to watch a lot of basketball, as well as drive down with my older daughter, but outside of a team lunch, I was persona non grata for the rest the of the day with my wife. So, after the final game on Saturday afternoon, I drove back to my separate hotel room, chilled for a bit, and concocted a plan for to find a game store and hopefully a (separate) good place for dinner.
I can safely say I found Nerdvana with only a 25-minute drive.
If you're going to be strip-mall gaming store, nothing seems like aiming for success (or Jersey) than setting up shop down the sidewalk from a Shop Rite.
Cleanliness: What does staff do while a roaring Magic tournament is going on in the back? How about... DUST! Cleanliness is always the first category I review, and seeing a staff member using some type of Swiffer duster over top of the board games on the shelves immediately gave me a good feeling. Everything else was well organized and professional.
CCGs: Magic, Pokemon, One Piece, Flesh and Blood and Yu-Gi-Oh! Magic singles in binder and in the case, although the nice selection of cards in the case were numbered into groups. I assume they might be a reference system, or they could be consignment sales. It's been a long time single I've seen three Unlimited Icy Manipulators in a case, regardless of price.
Role-Playing Games: A healthy, but not overwhelming stock of D&D, with a fierce selection of Free League and other games.
Miniatures: GW and D&D minis, Star Wars, Marvel Crisis Protocol, plus an actual selection of Song of Ice and Fire boxed sets? Throw in a host of other boxed sets and terrain, and I was quite happy.
Board Games: The standards plus a healthy assortment of games that made me take a second glance.
Accessories: Also saw some Gundam and anime models lurking throughout the store. A couple ingenious displays I had not seen before, namely a wooden folding wine rack for use displaying the spray paint cans, and trouser hangers and a rack to better display CCG play mats. Multiple racks of different paints, and enough dice roll a gigantic fireball in dozens upon dozens of colors and themes.
Events: Looking at their signs and the Facebook page, they have hosted/continue to host the variety of GW and CCG tournaments.
My stomach was controlling me for part of my visit, and after doing a little in-store dance after finding they had Wiz-Kids Dungeon Dressing: Merchant's Row in stock. I quickly took it to the counter to pay for it. The staff was pleasant, the store clean, and the back gaming area rocking. It's a no brainer that I give Nerdvana Tabletop Games Four out of Five Gnomes.
An equal four out of five gnomes (maybe 4 1/2) can be given to Rama Thai in the same shopping center. I got immediately seated, the food was great, and I could still taste the medium spiciness on my foggy drive home to the hotel.
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