The perfect retro game shop?

[beatnix]

This has been an ongoing discussion amongst my friends and I. What would the perfect retro game spot look like? If this has been discussed, I apologize. Did a quick, but not exhaustive, search prior to posting.

I envision a retro media shop. Games as the main draw but also, records, laserdiscs, books,movies and the like in smaller (more selective) numbers. I'd go for a cafe/coffee shop feel with a retail store in half the building and an arcade/diner in the other half. Tables would have system themes as well as tv's and said systems above the tables. You could rent out controllers. Would need to have a good online option to expand sales. Don't think a store can survive as brick and mortar only.

These are the basics in my head, what about you all? Any ideas you think would make a store successful. And by successful I mean both for the owner as well as the customers.

[SpoonyBard]

The best looking retro game shop would have people constantly walking in with cool stuff they wanted to get rid of. The store could be in a silo for all I care, as long as they had a steady flow of TG-16 games, and had store hours that weren't exactly the same as the ones I work - I would go there every day.

[Hazerd]

One where it wasnt sucked dry by Smart phone shoppers/pickers and the prices werent determined by pricecharting/ebay/amazon.

[beatnix]

Valid points... Inventory and price are key. But what about atmosphere? That was more in line of what i meant. The games get all of us who love gaming in the door but what about the average customer. What can a shop offer more than just a place to stop and dig through stack of carts?

[Hazerd]

As far as atmosphere, it needs to have that awesome carpet that most arcades had, specifically the carpet that Nathan Barnatt has in his arcade...

Washer and Dryer included

[beatnix]

Love the carpet! Agree that it's a must for that true vintage feel

[prfsnl_gmr]

The three best video game stores I have ever visited are:

Digital Press;

Game Xcape; and

Lost Ark.

They are great.

[cha cha]

My perfect game store is the one that has a large selection of things I want AND has not been ravaged one hundred times over by the unwashed nerd masses AND has plenty of gems at low outdated prices, for me to pillage until my gollum-like heart is content.

More for me, less for everyone else. That's the name of the game, no matter how much camaraderie and good tidings you try to hide the sentiments behind.

[TSTR]

My perfect game store is the one that has a large selection of things I want AND has not been ravaged one hundred times over by the unwashed nerd masses AND has plenty of gems at low outdated prices, for me to pillage until my gollum-like heart is content.

More for me, less for everyone else. That's the name of the game, no matter how much camaraderie and good tidings you try to hide the sentiments behind.

Haha, same here. My perfect store would give me first crack at everything with at least a 90% discount only for me.

[BoneSnapDeez]

My perfect game store is the one that has a large selection of things I want AND has not been ravaged one hundred times over by the unwashed nerd masses

That reminds me, last time I was shopping for games there was a pack of dudes (with bored girlfriends in tow) rummaging through all the games and commenting on each one. "Oh wow Mario I had this as a kid!" "I remember Bases Loaded!" They weren't even shopping, they were just reminiscing. Eventually I had to politely tell them to get the hell out of the way.

Here's a somewhat realistic goal for a game store - I wish they would stay on top of prices. Sometimes I'll walk into a store and see PS2 games with ancient $35 price tags, which made sense back in 2006 when they were initially traded in. But that shiz needs an update.

Also, stores should ban resellers.