Game Nook

Game Nook is a games store at 2916 Sunset Ave in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, set up as a place to play as much as a place to shop. It stocks trading card games, board games, miniatures, video games and more, and it runs organized play for Disney Lorcana, One Piece Card Game, Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Riftbound and Star Wars: Shatterpoint. It suits players who want a regular league night and a table to play at, and collectors who want to trade in games and cards in person.

What's on the shelves

Trading card games are one of seven categories in the store. Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece Card Game and Disney Lorcana are all carried, and the store sells sealed product, singles and accessories. The other six categories are board and classic games, miniatures, video games, dexterity and sports games, tabletop roleplaying, and building games.

The miniatures shelf covers Warhammer, Star Wars: Legion, Marvel Crisis Protocol and Gundam Assemble, along with paints, brushes and tools. Video games and consoles are sold pre-loved, with new accessories for retro systems. Tabletop roleplaying stock includes Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder core books, adventures and dice, plus LARP and cosplay weapons. Puzzles, model kits and STEM sets fill out the building games category.

Weekly play

League nights run on a rotating schedule, with each event held every other week. Entry is $12 for all three.

The Lorcana league runs 4 to 8:30 PM with three rounds of Swiss pairings and prizes per win, and the One Piece league runs 5 to 10 PM with prizes per win and additional prizing at the end of the league.

Organized play and events

Beyond the three weekly leagues, the calendar rotates through several other events. A Riftbound Nexus league meets every other Thursday at 6 PM for $12, with three rounds of Swiss pairings. A Commander league runs every other Friday from 5 to 10 PM for $12, with randomized pairings, scenarios each round and prizes every night. A Star Wars: Shatterpoint league meets monthly on a Sunday for $12.

The Delta Reign Pokémon prerelease is set for Saturday, October 31, at 3 PM, held during the biweekly Pokémon league. Doors open at 10 AM for sign-ups, seating is limited, and the Build & Battle format is $30 with three Swiss rounds and entry prizes.

Some events run past the 7 PM close. On those nights the store stays open to event entrants only, so anyone who also wants to shop should arrive before 7.

The play space

A dedicated play space sits right beside the shop on Geek Valhalla's open floor. It is fitted with Box King gaming tables: eight four-player tables, a dedicated table for miniature games or larger roleplaying groups, and a long table for drafts. Store terrain means a wargame does not require bringing a board, and a rulebook library is on hand for settling rules disputes.

A table rents for $5 cash or a $10 purchase in the store, and each table seats up to four. Tables are first come, first served while space permits, and can be reserved in advance. A paint bar rents by the seat for painting with friends.

Buying and trading in

The store buys and trades games and accessories, including trading cards, video games, board games, miniatures and tabletop roleplaying supplies. Payment is in cash or store credit, at the seller's choice. Selling is by appointment, and each appointment lasts about an hour. A seller needs an adult with a state-issued ID to sign the receipt. Complete board games are worth the most, and for miniatures, condition and whether they are built or painted both affect the offer. Cards that are sleeved or bindered slow the process, so sorting the valuable singles from the bulk beforehand helps.

Hours and getting there

The store is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Easter and July 4th.

Game Nook is in Space 519 inside Geek Valhalla, a multi-shop building just off I-95, about two minutes from the interstate. Free parking is available right at the door. The store is wheelchair accessible, with a ramp from the lot and aisles at least 4 ft wide. The drive is roughly half an hour from Wilson or Tarboro and about 50 minutes from Greenville.

History

Game Nook was founded in 2016.

The local scene

Other stores in Rocky Mount include Arkham Comics, KD Games, about 0.9 miles away, and New World Comics, about 1.1 miles away. In Wilson, about 14.6 miles away, are another Arkham Comics location and DreamDaze Comics Fun & Games. Card shows within reach of Raleigh include Pokémon Mini Con on November 1, Raleigh TCG Con on November 20 and the Raleigh/Crabtree Sports Card, TCG, Pokemon & Hobby Event on November 1, all roughly 42 to 48 miles away.