Shops In Ohio?

[Chakan]

Hey guys. I need some help here.

A couple of years ago, the only shop I ever seemed to need (Video Trader in Lancaster, OH) closed it's doors because I was one of the few people keeping it open. The old man behind the counter preferred pinball, but was always helpful and was able to get just about anything I requested.

I then started hitting up the Video Trader in Heath, but my first visit in a year or so this past weekend has led me to believe that it sucks now. They no longer stock a lot of older systems and stopped buying import games, carrying the current generation of stuff, NES, SNES, GG, Genny, and sports titles for other systems. Also, the guy running it that day looked like a generic stoner who plays Halo 24/7. Explains the change of general stock. >.>

Really sucks, because the Heath store was pretty awesome up until that visit.

So I'm looking for some cool stores dealing in New/Used classic games. I'm currently looking for NES, PCE/Turbo Duo, Genny, SNES, Sega CD, Saturn, Dreamcast, and some other random stuff. Other stores with awesome (or even reasonable prices) on current era stuff are good, too.

I'm located in central/south east Ohio, but I'm willing to travel just about anywhere in Ohio once in a while, especially with the dropping gas prices. Parkersburgh and other cities a couple hours East of Ohio are not out of the question.

Please don't direct me to stores that suck. ><

[chrisbid]

game swap in cincinati (eastgate and tri county malls)
game junkie north of cincinnati
haven games in columbus (city center mall)
video games express south of columbus

[Chakan]

Thanks for the reply, man. Any of them really worthwhile in particular?

[chrisbid]

game stores are really a grab bag. it depends on what you are looking for, though all of those stores have a nice variety of classic games and imports

[raregamergirl]

brian's video trader is a great store (the store in heath). if you are looking for particular games, be sure to ask brian as he keeps a lot of the better items. they dont stock imports, to my knowledge, though. there is a store in newark (trading zone I think) over next to the meijers, they are ok at best. lots of stuff, but mostly garbage. if you dont mind going to zanesville, there is a place called coin mart that is surprisingly decent.

[Austin]

Mike Gedeon's Video Game Connection in Cleveland.

Bud Street Video in Sharon, Pennsylvania has a great selection of NES - PS1. Plus, if you end up in Sharon, there are a ton of pawn shops that will have related items. (Plus, Quaker Steak & Lube, for the best wings you'll find anywhere.)

[MrSmiley381]

I live near Cleveland. Here are good places:

Jamie's Flea market in South Amherst: Got some good guys there on occasion. Across the street next to "Farmer Boy's Market" my bud is opening a shop.

James' Games: Guy in Lakewood. He's a complete asshole, but his stuff is CHEAP. Sometimes sells at Jamie's Flea market and some Cleveland Flea Market.

Flashback: It's somewhere near me. They kinda suck now. Would be a good idea to drop in when they go out of business, though.

Fun City: I forget where this is, but they've got some good stuff. Across the street is also a great comic store.

That's all of the Ohio stores I'm familiar with.

[Savedman]

game swap in cincinati (eastgate and tri county malls)
game junkie north of cincinnati
haven games in columbus (city center mall)
video games express south of columbus

Where is the VGE south of Columbus? I live in Chillicothe and I'm not sure where your talking about. Also, if you go to the City Center Mall don't go after dark. Scary place that city center. Lots of bad activity downtown after dark.

[scooterb23]

the VGE south of Columbus is in Grovetucky errr...Grove City ;)

ANd as someone who works in downtown Columbus, and after dark a lot, I gotta say that it's reputation is a bit overblown :D

[Chakan]

Yeah, I spent some time walking in Columbus after dark when I was a skinny, white teenager. Never had a single problem. Most people seemed pretty nice and friendly, but definitely drunk.

Thanks for all of the suggestions guys. Going to have to plan a massive road trip some weekend. ^^

[Hounder]

Doesn't Buyatari have stores in Ohio?

[Oobgarm]

game swap in cincinati (eastgate and tri county malls)
game junkie north of cincinnati

While you might find something at Game Swap, they're overpriced on anything that's remotely rare or HTF.

Game Junkie doesn't do much prior to the current gen(PS2 and the like), but they do have some [grossly overpriced] imports. Usually the popular stuff, like Naruto and things of that nature. Not worth checking out, IMO.

[dj2times]

hey... i live in columbus, and could probably tell you every 'mom and pop' game shop in columbus, and its surrounding area... i do deliveries all day over central ohio and make it a point to keep any eye out for game stores...and im not talkin about "game stops" or "eb games"... Grove city, Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, north of Dublin, Grandview, Victorian Village and Mt Vernon are places that pop up in my mind that contain some of the older stuff you may be looking for... Bowling Green also HAS one of the greater selections of retro systems ive seen...
get back to me by email or yahoo Im, or myspace... ill be able to give more accurate locations..
dj@lowscore.net
myspace.com/djgullette
or beastie2x@yahoo.com

[Savedman]

hey... i live in columbus, and could probably tell you every 'mom and pop' game shop in columbus, and its surrounding area... i do deliveries all day over central ohio and make it a point to keep any eye out for game stores...and im not talkin about "game stops" or "eb games"... Grove city, Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, north of Dublin, Grandview, Victorian Village and Mt Vernon are places that pop up in my mind that contain some of the older stuff you may be looking for... Bowling Green also HAS one of the greater selections of retro systems ive seen...
get back to me by email or yahoo Im, or myspace... ill be able to give more accurate locations..
dj@lowscore.net
myspace.com/djgullette
or beastie2x@yahoo.com

Dude....I live in Chillicothe. If you come up with some kind of map or something I'd be really interested in seeing it. I make it to Columbus about once a month or so . I know of a few and they are chain stores. Let me know. Thanks!!!

[Trebuken]

Video Games Express in Gove City is off Stringtown Rd. Just a short ways from 270 and I-71. They occassionally have some good stuff but generally the inventory on older games changes little. If your in the area I'd stop. West Point Video Games in Hilliard (Rome-Hilliard Rd.) is a nice store with a small amount of old stuff, but focuses on newer systems and DVD's.

Theres a place in Pickerington that I have not been to in a long while. Went down the drain...

Reynoldsberg has a place in a mall off Bryce Rd. If it's still there it's probably lifeless.

Older games are becoming really difficult to find for me too.

Later,
Trebuken

[CYRiX]

www.vgmx.com

[Trebuken]

www.vgmx.com

Only if you want music CD's and to deal with kids behind the counter...

Later,
Trebuken

[Savedman]

I think the one in the Brice Outlet Mall is gone. It used to be Funcoland then it changed to Game Stop. When Sams Club left the mall there were a few stores that went with it. It think Game Stop was one of them. I think there is a Game Crazy on South High Street on the west side of the street. I think it is in the same shopping center as a big Salvation Army. The Game Crazy is a stand alone building though, close to the street. It's not in the strip of stores. The Salvo is on the far left end of the parking lot. It's huge, you can't miss it.

Furthur up High Street on the right (way before downtown) there is a V.O.A. (Volunteers Of America). I've found a few deals there before.

Also, down in Cinci I found a game store in the same shopping center with Target. It's just off the I71 exit just past the Kings Island exit. Take the exit and turn left then left again. I don't remember if it's a VGE or what. It's a chain whatever it is but I remember that it isn't a Game Crazy.

[scooterb23]

The Video Trader in Brice Outlet mall had gone to Pataskala, but is back now (as of 6 weeks ago, last time I've been around). Although it might be new owners...

The Gamestop (actually the first Funcoland store in Columbus way back when) was in the Consumer's Square Mall across the street from Brice Outlet, it is now near the Kohl's on Hamilton :)

The thrifts on High Street are barren as far as video games go...the Ohio Thrift Store on Alum Creek sometimes has some common 2600 and Genny carts, but nothing major.

I forgot about Westpointe on Hilliard / New Rome. Great store, decent selection of NES, and the cheapest Magic cards in town.

[Blur2040]

I'll comment on the those Cincinnatti stores...as I'm in that area (yeah, Cincinnatti is probably spelled wrong...as well...i'm not from here).

Game Swap--Though I'll agree that they're overpriced on anything that's somewhat rare, their prices are negotiable. As long as you don't talk to their dumber employees. You can get great deals on anceint (pre NES) stuff there.

Game Junkie--This store blows hard. They advertise themselves as the biggest gaming something or other in the area. They just blow. My friend and I went down there to check it out...and were horribly underwhelmed. Horrible selection (nothing classic, and their newer selection isn't great either)...and well...I saw maybe 1 import.

I live in columbus...and well...I just can't buy games there anymore. I'm pissed that VGE closed their Westerville store (as I live in Westerville).

[Ruffie]

The Video Trader in Brice Outlet Mall recently changed owners and/or operators I think.

The old owner, who had a huge inventory of old stuff from Atari 2600 - on, has apparently moved to either Pataskala or Pickerington, according to the shop's new owners. He really had a lot of stuff, that old owner, but it was in such disarray and left in piles on the floor behind the desk, that it was hard for me to go in there. He also took old stuff in as trade ins, which was nice. I dumped a lot of extra stuff that I couldn't eBay there earlier this year.

The new shop has an exremely limited selection of NES to current generation stuff. However, it's clean and organized.

Ruffie

[drewbrim]

If you ever make it up north (Toledo, Cleveland, Akron) there is an excellent chain called The Exchange. I've probably built 70% of my collection from these stores. Great selection, good prices, and always the occasional rare.

[scooterb23]

You know... it's finally nice to know who has been getting all the good stuff at my favorite stores over the past few years LOL

[Chakan]

Theres a place in Pickerington that I have not been to in a long while. Went down the drain...

Are you talking about Press Start Gaming? I happened to be in the area and spotted it from 256. I spent a few minutes looking around, but guess what? That's all of the time it took to examine their wares. The staff was friendly, but the selection of older stuff is severely lacking. I picked up a loose Robotrek (SNES) for $2, since I've wanted it for a while, and made my way out the door.

Like I said, they seem nice and all, but a bit of a dissapointment.

[drewbrim]

You know... it's finally nice to know who has been getting all the good stuff at my favorite stores over the past few years LOL

Yeah, I hit up everyone in the area bi-weekly. I have the route from one store to another down to a science. Sorry about that scooter :P . Aren't you in Columbus though? Do they have The Exchange down there?

[Trebuken]

Theres a place in Pickerington that I have not been to in a long while. Went down the drain...

Are you talking about Press Start Gaming? I happened to be in the area and spotted it from 256. I spent a few minutes looking around, but guess what? That's all of the time it took to examine their wares. The staff was friendly, but the selection of older stuff is severely lacking. I picked up a loose Robotrek (SNES) for $2, since I've wanted it for a while, and made my way out the door.

Like I said, they seem nice and all, but a bit of a dissapointment.

Yeah that's the place. Was a Video Games Express a while back (formerly owned by Burt at the Grove City store; he also had the former Bethel store and the current Schrock Rd. store).

I stopped going there; was just a hang out, nothing to look at any more.

Another place some might check out is BuyBacks at Georgesville Plaza. They have a ton of N64 and PS1 stuff, and some Gameboy games. Nothing older than that. Theor prices are high, but they do have inventory.

Later,
Trebuken

[Carey85]

In the Cincinnati area, there is also Games Galore in Cincinnati Mills Mall. Also, it's nice to see so many DP'ers from Ohio.

[dj2times]

wow. didnt realize there were that many collectors in the area... we all need to have a pow wow and put all of our information together keep each other updated on current items located at the stores we goto...
think ill set my "lowscore.net" forum up for that... its been dead since the day i set it up, would be nice to get some kind of use outta it...
anybody else keen on this idea?

send me a pm... just so i know who to get ahold of.

[Chakan]

Checked out VGE in Grove City yesterday. The store was fairly clean, the guys working the shop were friendly & knowledgeable, and their prices were alright. Most of the items are NES, Genny, SNES, and then later. Nice store, though. I'll visit it whenever I happen to be in the area now. :)

We went to Southland Expo Center and Westland Flea Market while we were going around 270 and OMFG! The booths are still marking their prices a bit high. One guy had "a stack" of naked Zelda: LTTP carts priced @ $19.99. There was one guy stuck in a tiny booth in the far side of one of the buildings that had reasonably priced carts ($2 NES, $3 SNES/GEN), but was down to just sports titles and really common NES games.

I had been there a few years back and remember one of the vendors had an abused copy of Dark Wizard for Sega CD priced at like $80! The guy must make some sales here and there, because his shop was still in the same exact spot. Crazy!

Makes me want to open my own store somewhere in central Ohio. ><

[Querjek]

Chakan, where in Ohio are you? I'm in Athens, an hour from Lancaster and Parkersburg (closer to 45 minutes, but still).

[Chakan]

I'm living in Lancaster, actually. I know Athens pretty well. I lived there for the majority of 2002.

[dj2times]

we need to get one of those maps goin...shit...cant think of its name off hand....where you type in an address and the push pin comes up... ... anyways...its early you know what im talkin about...we should have one for ohio. thats all im sayin.

back to work.

[dj2times]

we need to get one of those maps goin...shit...cant think of its name off hand....where you type in an address and the push pin comes up... ... anyways...its early you know what im talkin about...we should have one for ohio. thats all im sayin.

back to work.

[vgc]

Soon to be opening in Lakewood, OH., another Video Game Connection. Well actually Classic Arcade Superstore featuring games of Video Game Connection. Charlie of http://retroarcaderepair.com/ will have many Great Classic Arcade Games there for sale and I will have a ton of Classic Console Games for sale. I have run out of room at my other store in Cleveland Ohio and needed a place for more of my Classic Stuff. The Cleveland store will remain and have all the Classics it did before, but I will have some extra goodies at this new location. Heres some progress pics and Videos:

http://www.videogameconnection.com/CAS/

Pic 11, 12 & 13 are the room before I got in there. Notice the pong is still in my room, to be moved out tomorrow. Soon I will be opening the Smallest Video Game store in the world.

Mike : )

[Mr.collection]

Yes a Game store map of Ohio would be nice, but not for my wallet.

The Exchange is a great place depending on which one you go to the staff is not that great. I got my Maxi-15 there :D and I always see if there is one near where I am if I travel.
To expand on what MrSmiley381 said:
Fun City is in Parma by an Exchange and a chinese resturant named Double Dragon.
James' Games, Lakewood, yes the guy is a retard but that just makes for good prices on games.
Flashback is in Amherst, and was a great store until the guy sold it now some retards run it and James is slowly buying them out.

[vgc]

Soon to be opening in Lakewood, OH., another Video Game Connection. Well actually Classic Arcade Superstore featuring games of Video Game Connection. Charlie of http://retroarcaderepair.com/ will have many Great Classic Arcade Games there for sale and I will have a ton of Classic Console Games for sale. I have run out of room at my other store in Cleveland Ohio and needed a place for more of my Classic Stuff. The Cleveland store will remain and have all the Classics it did before, but I will have some extra goodies at this new location. Heres some progress pics and Videos:

http://www.videogameconnection.com/CAS/

Pic 11, 12 & 13 are the room before I got in there. Notice the pong is still in my room, to be moved out tomorrow. Soon I will be opening the Smallest Video Game store in the world.

Mike : )

Store is now open, Bringing in new stock each day til its full. Here's yesterdays look, Yeah pong is still in the room :

http://www.videogameconnection.com/CAS/CAS%20Build%2023.MPG

Classic Arcade Superstore
13614 Detroit Ave. Lakewood Ohio 44107
M,T,Th,F,Sa Noon-6PM 216-226-1980

I will be working all hours : )

Today Chuck A. ( Pac-Man on his License Plate ) Whooped me at Kaboom getting like 20,000 in his 1st game. See vid below:

http://www.videogameconnection.com/MUSEUM/Chuck%20A%20Kaboom%20Champ.MPG

Mike : )

[Trevor Belmont]

Awesome thread! I'll echo what Carey said, it's great to see so many DP'ers in Ohio.

When I was at school in Toledo, we dropped by a small place called Video Game Underground on Sylvania Avenue. I knew it would be a good place when I went in and there was a Blazing Star arcade cabinet. If I remember correctly, if you beat the high score, you got a free game of choice (although the score was ridiculously high). Anyway, don't remember much about the prices, but the place was really cool and, despite being small, seemed to have a good selection at the time. It's been a few years though, so I don't know how much has changed since then. They have a web site http://www.vgug.com and their commercials are hilarious. Recommended, from what little I remember about the place.

[Rev. Link]

Again, very cool to see so many collectors from Ohio. :)

I'm from the Cincinnati area, so I can chime in on our stores here. Game Swap is a good place, usually has a lot to choose from, but their prices do tend to be high.

Games Galore is cool, but really small. Their selection isn't very big, but sometimes you can find some really good stuff there. It's not uncommon to find complete SNES rpgs there.

As for the chains, the Game Crazy down in Florence, KY (just south of Cincinnati) is good. They don't have many classic games anymore, but the employees there are great.

If you're in my part of the area, southeast Indiana, there's a decent little pawn shop called The Trading Post down by the courthouse in Lawrenceburg. They sometimes have some good finds. I saw a Suikoden there once, and I kick myself every day for not picking it up! LOL