Specialties Games Toys & Gifts

Specialties Games Toys & Gifts is a locally owned game and toy store on Knickerbocker Road in San Angelo, Texas, open since 1993. It is a toy store and a game store at once: developmental toys and gifts for families share the building with tabletop games, collectible card games, miniatures and roleplaying lines, plus a room for in-store play. Magic: The Gathering players will find a tournament on three nights of the week.

What's on the shelves

The store carries tabletop games, collectible card games, miniatures and roleplaying games, along with traditional board games, Euro games and some unusual titles. Computer games are not part of the mix. On the toy side, the range runs from developmental toys and first friends for babies up through games for teens and adults, and the store belongs to the American Specialty Toy Retailers Association.

Service is a real part of the pitch. Staff will demo any product and show customers how to play it. The store can special order items, have larger pieces drop shipped, deliver and set up locally, and ship to customers out of town. In-store and curbside pickup are both available. Teachers are a priority: the store appears on many school approved vendor lists and will work with a school system to get added to one it is not yet on.

Weekly play

Magic: The Gathering has a standing slot on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The Tuesday event is Standard and the Thursday event is Modern; the Wednesday session is a Commander night, and an X-Wing session runs at 4 PM on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Friday evenings have also hosted board games, and larger Sunday events are announced as they come up, though in-store events are returning soon, so confirm anything beyond the Magic schedule with the store.

Hours and getting there

The store sits in The Shops at Stadium Park, at 2011 Knickerbocker Rd in San Angelo.

Tuesday and Thursday Magic events start at 7 PM, the weekday closing time, so confirm evening plans with the store.

History

Specialties opened in 1993 and has been locally owned in San Angelo ever since. It moved out of Sunset Mall into The Shops at Stadium Park, a move that brought more floor space for toys and games. The owners chose the inventory themselves, and the store supports local schools and charities. Younger customers know it as The Blue Door Store.

The local scene

San Angelo has several other game and card stores within a few miles: Game X Change is 0.9 miles away, DreamShark Toys and Games 1.7 miles, Spellbound Cards and Games 1.8 miles, and Outer Rim Collective 2 miles. Angelo Lawn And Hobby is 2.2 miles away.

Who it suits

Specialties fits families shopping for toys and gifts who also want a game room, Magic players looking for a weeknight tournament, and teachers who need a vendor that can special order and work with a school system.