Our story begins at the local hobby store of Castle Hill.
As effortless as an innocent misstep leading me astray, I found myself drawn into the enchanting embrace of this mystical store at the tender age of eight. Its treasures, atmosphere, and, most of all, its vibrant culture captivated me instantly. Welcomed with open arms, I eagerly sought to immerse myself in the excitement pulsating within its walls.
It started as a crippling addiction to Warhammer (as most of you would understand), where I built, painted and played with these little guys from the grim dark future – known as Space Marines – who would fight off the endless horde of bug-like killing creatures – known as the Tyranids. My imagination ran wild, thinking of where the next roll of the dice would take me. I had absolutely no idea what was going on as my rocks for brains couldn’t handle the complex rules of 4th edition Warhammer but boy, did I just love the realm I was in.
I found myself utterly captivated by the thrill of the action, longing for my friends to share in the excitement. Before long, we cultivated a vibrant community, expanding our circle of friends and embracing new interests. Side by side, we embarked on countless adventures, creating memories that remain cherished as the years unfold.
Once upper high school hit, I was guided to my next obsession by a higher power – a malfunctioning Navman map system – that had me end up in a new part of town. This where I stumbled upon yet another hobby store, where I discovered the love and community that is Magic The Gathering.
Despite the late hour, the store pulsed with vitality and anticipation. Stepping inside, I was enveloped in a warm embrace of community, greeted with open arms and handed a deck of 100 cards brimming with beasts, spells, and lands, beckoning me into the heart of the excitement. Today, I recount this tale with fondness, reminiscing about the unparalleled sense of belonging I experienced that night—a memory etched as one of life's greatest moments. In the weeks that followed, I found myself returning to this haven three nights a week, joined by fellow enthusiasts who, like me, had grown from the very inception of our shared passion, weaving countless memories together.
The realms of Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Dungeons and Dragons, Pokémon, and myriad others became the foundation of our bond, providing endless opportunities for gatherings and crafting some of our most cherished collective memories.
Now to get to the good part: why I chose to open my own hobby store.
I’m always trying to compel others to experience the feelings I had when I first discovered hobbies, and to feel the embrace I felt by my fellow hobby enthusiasts. For me, it was a serotonin high that never went away, and I want everyone to have that same experience. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
I want to create a community of magic-slinging, dice-wielding, card-throwing enthusiasts that will carry on and spread this electric feeling of acceptance and community. This is only the beginning of our journey. One day I dream of being able to open our own physical store, hosting some of the best seen tabletop events, but most importantly, from day one, I want to create the culture and community that I once cherished above all else.
So please, join me as we embark on the journey that my 8-year-old self, with clogged glue and the plastic head of a space marine stuck between his finger and thumb, once thought could only exist in dreams. Let's travel together to turn this dream into reality.