Review - Iron Buffalo Gaming. A game store with a coffee problem.

Name: Iron Buffalo Gaming (and Coffee!) 
Location: 656 Millersport Highway, Amherst, NY 14226
Phone: (716) 541-0336
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ironbuffalogaming
Website: https://www.ironbuffalogaming.com/

Coffee and games are two of my favorite things and Iron Buffalo has them both. I love this shop and not for the excellent coffee smell that permeates everything. We have some great gaming shops in the area but this one is my favorite for the coffee connection. 

Iron Buffalo has a great assortment of games, D&D, OSE, X-Wing plus paints, dice, and other gaming supplies. The last time I was in there, it was the height of COVID and there was no coffee. Local places have been taking a pounding from this crap. 

I somehow managed to not take any pictures when I last visited, which I really regret. The inside of the building is wonderfully laid out, with everything having its place. It is so easy to find what you need. I am planning a trip tomorrow or the next day, so maybe I'll not forget myself and take a picture or two. 

I hear scheduled events will return Friday, March 18th, so check them out on the web or their Facebook page. As I understand it, Iron Buffalo still has a facemask policy, so be prepared. If you follow them on Facebook, you'll get status updates which include event scheduling, new products, and other fun stuff happening there. 

One of the things that blew me away was they had an actual copy of Old School Essentials' Rules Tome. My wife gifted it to me for Christmas. This is one of the reasons you need to shop locally for things, whether it's a shop like Iron Buffalo or your local shop. It keeps the chain intact. A little shop investing in a tiny book floats at least two different companies and keeps the industry going. And it's more than "going" if a non-gamer like my wife can pick out a great game at a local shop, sight unseen from my dinner time blatherings.  

If you are in the Western New York Area, you have to check this shop out. 

Gather & Game Review

I have no idea why it took me so long to get to this shop. Gather & Game is a real gamers' shop. I took my son, Nathan, and my daughter, Catherine. Nathan was more impressed with the shop than Catherine. She had been playing guitar while my wife was at an online class, which is less than optimal. 

Name: Gather & Game
Location: 205 Grant St., Buffalo, New York 14213
Phone: 716-342-2823
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gatherandgame
Website: https://www.gatherandgame.com/

Gather & Game is located on Grant Street, a historic neighborhood with charm. Many of the shops have been there for decades and the game shop is no exception. The storefront is painted in vivid hues of purple and pink. From the outside, you'd have no idea that they crammed that much product into such a tiny space and left room for tables and gaming. 

There is no missing this place from the street, even when surrounded by equally colorful shops. 

Inside is cramped but comfortable. Shelves, displace cases, and gaming tables occupy most of the space. If you want to stroll along, you'll need to walk down Grant Street, which is always an adventure. 

I had to contain myself walking through the shelves. They have so many games. Everything from board games to Traveller5. I also had to remind myself that I had a budget to stick to, otherwise, I would have walked out with an armload of Warhammer, Battletech, and e5 products plus half a dozen board games that caught my eye. They had a few featured products but the shelves are crammed with perhaps 100 different types of games. 

They have something for everyone. 

Even better, the staff and owners are so knowledgeable about the wide array of products they have on hand. And it's not that salesman sort of knowledge, it's that warm and friendly passion about play and enjoyment that shines through. Even my heavy metal daughter smiled a bit when talking about products. 

They are already back to hosting game nights and I can't wait to go back. If you get a chance to visit Buffalo, make time to stop at our local shops for your gaming fix. 

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Review - Dragon Snack Games

2024 Edit - Dragon Snack has closed. You can check out their Facebook page for details. I hear they are going to reopen under new ownership. 
Late 2024 Edit - They are now Casual Dragon Games. 

The goal is to have a review a week. My idea was to do a review of books, movies, and games every week for 2021. This is week two and I have 3 already and a list of 52 on deck to go. 

This is a bonus post because I didn't set out to review stores. This post is without remuneration, I have no affiliation with Dragon Snack games but I am purchasing a lot of material from them to fuel this thing. I have a shortlist of stores I need to visit in the near future, so expect to see more store reviews in the future. 

Name: Dragon Snack Games
Location: 3908 Maple Rd, Buffalo, NY 14226
Phone: (716) 833-0740
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dragonsnackgames/

January 1st, 2021 I needed something to do. I had the chance to stop into Dragon Snack Games to make some game purchases. I had never been there before and had no idea what to expect. 

Normally, I'd call this "a trip to The Shop", but Dragon Snack is much more than a "shop". It's huge. I was the only shopper probably because of the holiday and that wide open space threw me for a loop. 

On entry, there is a closeout section in front of the register loaded with stuff I want. I bumbled my way past it and onto the dozen or more racks that lined the center of the store. They have a bit of everything from books to figures. I was so Woww'ed by what I saw, I am unable to process everything I saw. The outer walls are lined with shelves loaded with books, games, and puzzles. Maybe some models, too.

They have a small selection of paints and figure supplies, but this is a highly qualified statement. It was several shelves and racks, easily enough to fill a 10 by 10 room. 

Unlike other "game shops" Dragon Snack Games is open, airy, and brightly lit. I was easily able to make up a list of 50 things I wanted on entry and ticked off a list of 50 more items I saw that I now wanted after browsing the shelves. To say their selection is ample is an understatement. Prices are on par with other outlets or websites. If they are more expensive than online retailers, it's tiny and worth the experience.  

The back of the store is dedicated to either in-store gameplay or some sort of DIY activities, I was not able to tell as it was not in use due to Covid. I can't wait to go back after this mess is over. 

Quirks: In addition to being brightly lit and spacious, they play Sisters of Mercy and have a large glass screen between the cashier and the customer. It is completely touchless. I was surprised when the cashier asked me to turn the boxes around so she could read the price. Real, really touchless. It was one of the best touchless shopping experiences I have ever had. Probably on par with something you'd see at a massive company like Disney. 

Yeah, that feels about right. It's the Disney World of Game shops in my mind. 

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