(Review) The Adventurers' Academy - York, Pennsylvania

I'm closing in on 13 years of game stores reviews.  I've given two five-gnome reviews:  Pop's Culture Shopped in Wellsboro, PA, the epitome of what a small town game store can amount to, and Games and Stuff in Glen Burnie, MD, which is an ultimate and proper use of commercial gaming space.  

I think with the The Adventurers' Academy in York, PA, I may have found my third.  

This weekend was a volleyball tournament down in York for my daughter, Maja.  We were there from 8am-6pm on Saturday, and with worsening snow the further north we travelled to get home, their mother left with them, and I stalled a little longer by visiting a game store in the area.  The pictures I saw did not do it justice (and were actually a dated configuration).  

I think the concept of the medieval/fantasy inn for a game store might run older than D&D itself.  Nice tables, dark stained accoutrements and equipment.  I've seen enough failed half-attempts, but Adventurers' Academy might be the first I've seen in person that knocks it out of the park.  

I mean, when I walk in to a pleasant greeting and this quirky apparel section, I know this isn't going to be a Magic store with some dice, two role-playing books, and the "We're becoming a GW sanctioned store soon."  answer.  

Location:  The building is an older commercial strip mall (with medical and other offices in the facility with the generalized entrance.  The outside entrance for Adventurers' Academy is well-lit and covered.  

Cleanliness:  It was a busy time on a wintry night, and the store was as immaculate as one could expect.  

Miniatures:   I had one of my few moments of sadness, as I found the sign for "War Games" and it was a small display of Kill Zone with a single Battletech starter box on a shelf, a further search netted a diverse 40k selection directly behind me.  There was also a good assortment of  WizKids D&D and Generic Fantasy. as well as a WELL STOCKED Army Painter and GW paints and supplies.

Board Games: A healthy amount of new board games, with a handful of the classics. 

RPGS: A nice display of D&D books, with a smattering of other games, including a Mothership boxed set, and some Magical Kitties Save the Day.  

To make things even more impressed, they had a small section on Cosplay!  

Accessories: Lots of dice in various displays.  They ran the gamut with selection and displays, and I'll be honest:  I could learn to accept the new $15 price point for dice if everyplace  was like this.  

There was a beverage cooler and racks of decently priced snacks. 

If the girls were with me, this is how I couldn't afford gas home.  

The "Gifts & Geekery"  had a prominent footprint, from jewelry to t-shirts, foodstuffs to plushies.  A lot of impulse buys around the center aisle leading up to

CCGs:  It took me this long to mention the accoutrements along a ceiling shelf. Miliary caps for wargames, medieval helmets and accessories above role playing,   The furniture selection alone for CCGs put every other Ikea-based shelving decision to shame.  

No poorly light glass cases.  Prominent cards are display in a cabinet, with other cards in a bank of old card-catalog styled drawers.  Magic, Flesh & Blood, Pokemon, and Star Wars event taking place.  

Events:  The sales are was great, but the well done gaming in the back fit all their needs. I saw at least two dozen folks playing Magic and 40k, predominantly 20s-50s males, 

Events are listed on the web site, and include Magic, Pokemon, D&D, Miniatures, and even a board games and painting night! 

Now THIS is a role-playing table. 

The drawbacks?  I call myself a pseudo-grognard, so there is a level of polish that brings Critical Role to my mind, and I'm not a fan of anything they do.  Most importantly, if it works, stick to it.  What I want more of probably doesn't sell, and the discovery of a small clearance section shows me they know what sells and knows when to get rid of things that don't.  

I'm not sending a plaque, but a 5 gnomes out of 5 rating from me for a game store is big news, only the third time I've done it.  I would like to find a reason to go down and visit in the spring or summer.   

The Adventurers' Academy is located at 1720 S Queen St, York, PA 17403.  Check out their web page or Facebook for more information.