Paradox Trading Post

Paradox Trading Post is a game store in Olympia, Washington, on Martin Way East, built around trading card games, tabletop miniatures, tabletop role-playing games and board games. It is open from noon to 2 AM every day of the week, which makes it one of the few places in the area where a late-night game is a reasonable plan. It suits players who want room to spread out and a store that treats Magic as a main course rather than a side shelf.

What's on the shelves

The store carries trading card games, tabletop miniatures, tabletop RPGs and board games, along with related supplies. The core selection is curated, and the store also draws on a distribution network that gives it access to thousands of additional games, so a title not on the shelf can often be brought in. Singles can be browsed through a digital catalog, which is the practical route when you are hunting for the one missing card to finish a deck.

Play space

Play space is a real part of the design. The floor is laid out with playmats and terrain for every game, so a miniatures or card game can be set up without bringing your own table dressing. Two table types are available:

The standing height suits miniatures and wargames, while the longer sitting tables fit card games, board games and role-playing sessions.

Organized play

Paradox Trading Post is a Wizards Play Network Premium store, and it is the only one in Thurston County. That designation matters mainly to Magic: The Gathering players, since Premium stores are the ones set up to host the fuller range of sanctioned Wizards events. The store also runs tournaments, deep-dive discussions, charity events, game nights and card battles that are broadcast live and recorded, so some of what happens in the shop can be followed from home. Event announcements and preorders are handled through the store's community server.

Hours and getting there

The store is open noon to 2 AM seven days a week, with no early closes on weekends.

The address is 9333 Martin Way East, Suite 214, Olympia, WA 98516, in a commercial strip along Martin Way. A second suite address on the same street, 9323 Martin Way East, Suite 112, also turns up in the store's contact details, so confirm the suite before a first visit.

History

Paradox Trading Post LLC was created by gamers for gamers. The founding idea was to break the mold of a typical game store and build a community hub where players could gather, make friends and play together, rather than a place that only sells the latest releases.

The local scene

Several other card and game stores sit within a short drive. The Toy Box Collectables and Gabi's Olympic Cards & Comics are in Lacey, about 3.4 and 4.5 miles away, and Gamestar - Lacey is about 4.6 miles away. In Olympia, The Retro Collection is about 6.5 miles away and The Mystic Game Shop about 7.6 miles. For card shows, Twin Oaks Sports Cards and Collectible Shows is about 26.6 miles away with its next date on October 31, 2026, and Twin Oaks Card Show follows on November 8, 2026. Gold Star Card Show, a Halloween edition, is about 56.8 miles away on October 31, 2026.