In past years, I had discussed about a local card game shop that had its grand opening just a couple of years ago as well as the follow-up to that happening. It's a fascinating card game shop - even more so by its continued presence to this day - which is why I thought of making a post that serves as a "virtual tour" of the place, albeit verbally. It's something that I probably should have made ever since the opening back then, but it's also fine to do it now post facto.
The card game shop is composed of three floors, which is an impressive feat and indicative of the difficulty of maintaining it, as per the power problems during the grand opening. The first floor is the "showcase" floor, where cards for the Pokémon TCG as well as a few other TCG are shown. Some accessories for them are also displayed, and so are some Pokémon figures that could be obtained by opening blind boxes. There is certainly a cashier for buying the goodies, as well as some benches for people to wait on other people at the shop or just to view all the things the card shop has to offer - at least on this floor. They would have to go up for more.
And they do, to the "action" floor, passing a blue Gyarados art installation... at least in the early days, for the last time I was there, the installation was removed. Here resides the tables, chairs, stage, and video wall as mentioned previously for the tournaments and events that the card game shop hosts. Another kind of "action" here is for buying (and selling) the cards of the Pokémon TCG, which are also displayed in galleries for individual cards of repute, or just the regular selection of booster packs and such. Dolls, if available, also appear on this floor, and they have their own dedicated (and money-spending) fans ready to purchase them at once.
Meanwhile, the topmost floor is the "relaxation" floor, which mostly offers diversions from TCG goings-on. It has a café and extra tables if somehow players also need to practice (especially if a tournament is happening downstairs), and more recently, tile games have been on offer for their own dedicated fans. This floor can be described as a miniature hobby and game shop, or at least as a sub-section of the shop itself, which at heart is focused on collectible items, in fact being the namesake for the shop - though I'm not obliged to say more on this aspect. It's still a vital part of the shop experience itself, especially for those who plan to spend time there.
Having three floors for a card shop might seem strange or over-the-top, but my local card game shop has made it work for two years and counting. All of that also deserves to be toured for those who just might make it to said shop and want to know what to experience, or even those who might never have a chance of making it there and want to know the general vibes. Certainly, Pokémon vibes are still to be expected regardless from this shop for all it's worth.
One year ago: TCGP: Luxuriously Deluxe (...Pack ex)
Two years ago: The New Event Structure of Café Remix
Three years ago: Latest Pokémon Fun on Social Media
Four years ago: Surrendering in Pokémon Unite
Five years ago: Record-Keeping in Pokémon Games
Seven years ago: Someone Else's Points
Eight years ago: A Poké Ball Keychain
Nine years ago: Cosplay: Kisetsu no Matsuri
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