Get offline and get hands-on with your hobbies and games. Check out some of the fantastic hobby and game shops in Buffalo Niagara.
by Max Fisher
Dave and Adam’s Card World
Join the Party
I am a big believer in the idea that everyone should have a hobby. It’s an excellent way to unwind, and if it’s a collection-based hobby, like stamp or coin collecting, you get the satisfaction of seeing your collection grow from slim pickings at first to something you can really be proud of (just don’t overdo it where you have coins and stamps coming out of every drawer and cupboard in your home. That’s called hoarding and trust me that’s a tv special you don’t want). I myself like to collect books and comics that I periodically look at on my shelves and think, “god, that’s a lot of stuff” (maybe my tv specials coming up soon?).
Bottom line is it’s nice to have an activity that’s outside of your day-to-day routine that you can nurture and grow exactly however you like. So how about we talk about what makes the great hobby shops in Buffalo Niagara so the hobbyists among us can enjoy their hobbies, whether it be coin collecting, toy collecting, or the occasional game of dungeons and dragons (side note I always kind of wanted to play that, but I always get scared away because you have to do math, and the less math in my life the better. I count calories and that’s about it).
And those looking to find their footing in the hobbyist/game culture can get a foothold and see what’s out there; so let’s get after it.
Pick Your Pleasure
There are so many types of hobbies out there it can be very overwhelming if you are looking to get into one yourself. Do you like toys (don’t worry, the time for grown folks to be shamed and ridiculed for liking 80s G.I Joe’s is over, so feel free to say yes if you want, this is a safe place, I promise)? Do you like board games but don’t want to buy a bunch of them only for them to end up in your basement gathering dust? It seems like a lot at first, but there’s a simple solution. Go into a hobby store and ask some questions (see, I told you it was simple. What? Did you think there’d be math involved or something?)
Dark Forest Games
The key is to have some semblance of an idea of what you would like to start doing for a hobby. It’s fine to just try new things until something sticks. The only problem with that is you don’t want to spend too much time and effort on something only to find out that you don’t care for it. I bought a hundred puzzles over the course of 5 years only to find out I hate them. What does that make me? Someone who wasted a lot of their time and money.
Don’t be that person. When you can’t get the corners to fit just quit.
Like I said before, find something you’re mildly interested in. Go to the store and ask questions. Take, for instance, the good people at Collector’s Inn who specialize in comics and cards of all kinds from Pokémon to magic to gathering Comics, from Marvel to DC. They’re a wealth of information for whatever you need if you wish to do a deeper dive into these particular hobbies. Granted, comics and cards may seem like impenetrable things to get into to an outsider.
Still, they’ll be more than happy to help you with whatever questions or concerns you may have, and that’s the type of feel you should look for with whatever hobby shop you choose. It should be welcoming. You should feel at ease as you walk through the door of the store, and you should see the majority of customers as well with smiles on their faces talking or in peaceful open debate. Hobby shops sometimes bring with them a sense of toxicity by the collecting nature such establishments facilitate. If you see people arguing to the point that it seems like they might come to blows, or there seems to be a high level of snobbery going on, leave because chances are this is far from a one-time thing.
Collector’s Inn
Hobby shops like Collector’s Inn are great because they prioritize the fun and camaraderie parts that come with hobbies and games instead of the elitism that is sadly a part of it as well. As a rule of thumb, if you see someone acting high and mighty because they have a special card or something and he or she is getting a little crowd amongst them hanging on every word like there in the middle of a church sermon, head for the door. If everyone is engaged in a civil, friendly conversation where everyone talking gets a chance to speak and be heard, that’s the place to be, and that’s the place to start/grow your hobby!
Gather and Game
Not All That’s Digital is Gold
The various hobby shops in Buffalo Niagara are in an interesting place in this day and time. The majority of people get entertainment from the internet nowadays. What’s the point of having a tangible hobby or sitting down to play a game with your hands in 2021? Well, I’ll tell you, it’s about the feel. Sure, you can collect stuff online. You can even play board games or whatever you’d like online, but it always comes off a bit soulless. You might grow your collection of cards or whatever you may have, but it’s just stored on a server. At the end of the day, it’s a bunch of 1s and 0s that makeup something on your screen. You can’t hold it in your hand and appreciate it. You can’t watch it grow over time physically before your eyes.
I get that today there are people that prefer Digital/Internet-based things over the tangible every time. Still, in my eyes, they’re missing out on all the subtle but impactful parts that make hobbies worth investing in and games worth playing. So if you’re looking to get away from the Internet and get into a tangible hobby/game, check out some of the Hobby Shops in Buffalo Niagara. I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll like.
Hobby Shops in Buffalo Niagara
choose any location to view store information, inventory, get directions, & more.
716 Sports Cards and Collectibles
Orchard Park
ABC Fly Before You Buy
Lockport
Artcraft
Hamburg
Aurora Rails and Hobbies
East Aurora
Boucher’s Ceramics Unlimited
West Seneca
Buffalo Road Imports
Clarence
Buffalo Stamps and Stuff
Buffalo
Casual Dragon Games
Lockport
Collector’s Inn
Buffalo
Collectors Haven
Orchard Park
Dark Forest Games
North Tonawanda
Dave and Adams
Williamsville
Dragon Snack Games
Buffalo
Field’s Hobby Center
Cheektowaga
Gather & Game
Buffalo
Halley’s Comics & Games
North Tonawanda
Harold B. Rice Coins and Stamps
Buffalo
Highland Hobby
Derby
Mana Bar
North Tonawanda
Model Railroad World
Tonawanda
Nick’s Sporting Goods
Buffalo
Raff and Friends
Williamsville
Red Dragon’s Hoard
Niagara Falls
Section 8 Hobbies
Buffalo
That 80’s Toy Shop
Tonawanda
WNY Gaming
Hamburg
What do you think of our guide to game & hobby shops in Buffalo Niagara? Have a favorite? Know a great one that we missed? Let us know.
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