There has never been a batch of classic game stores around here really. But I have gotten some good stuff at GameCrazy before they went off the classic-plastic and went belly-up and I've also made killer scores at one of the Play-n-Trades that used to be around here. The only surviving indy store I know of is a long drive away. It just opened earlier this year and I can only manage to get down there once a month at best. Got good things there too.
The thing is, someone operating a classic game store is going to know their market (if they want to survive). You're not going to take them to the woodshed value-wise and cherry pick on the cheap like you can the pawns or the flea vendors. They're specialized! That has got to be worth something. Finds are much more consistent to boot, thanks to them knowing what is in demand and such. I'd post a supply/demand/price intersect here, but that's a little overkill.
I'm not saying they're all good at all. Most the Play-n-Trades were pathetic by report and by what I saw myself. There are good ones out there, even if they are hard to find as they have been for me.