08/19/2021
We are saddened to announce, we will be closing the brick and mortar location on Sept 10th, details and reasoning below. We will also be hosting final events and crowning "Store Champions" after different tournaments and events.
We are asking for donations to help cover closing costs, moving + storage, and some extra security for our Son Nyx. https://gofund.me/3f8b2b58
There's been a culmination of different events that transpired to provoke this change, Cha will be releasing detailed videos explaining the complexities in the coming weeks, perks of not signing NDAs, we can discuss problems now.
The major reason aside from industry changes is Cha's physical health and our son Nyx. As many of you I'm sure have noticed, we had to place Pug in a position to run the shop the last month as Cha's health has tanked again with the seizures and heart problems. Before our son it wasn't an issue to work 84+ hour weeks, but not that he is here and older the time commitment to the store creates a situation where we could potential miss events from our son's life, and that is not something Cha is willing to do.
Issues Nerdom and Industry as a whole facing
*Pandemic and shutdowns - zoned in same function as gyms and movie theaters since we are entertainment, when they are closed, we are closed. In the last two years, we've been closed 14+ months off and on.
*Delta and other Variants - L&I has been warning on shutdowns in the future and asking us to prepare
*MSRP out the window - In all TCG areas, MSRP no longer exists and creates very shady business practices. We would buy a box of MTG for $84 from a direct DISTRIBUTOR, just to find them being resold way under MSRP by Amazon to undercut distributors, listing them at $86. This created a situation where Amazon has become psuedo MSRP, customers feeling gagged, and price fluxuations every week.
*Amazon and other major retailers acting as secondary distribution markets - Distributors killed the market but allowing MJ Holdings (Walmart/Target/Gamestop etc) and Amazon open direct lines with distributors such as GTS, Southern Hobby, Alliance etc.. this along with Wizards ending direct distribution created the above MSRP scandal, and now has massive fluxuations in prices. We saw packs of Jumpstart which were suppose to retail 4.49 a pack, jump up to $15 in the first week due to artificial manipulation. We have always had a direct line with our customers and clearly stated our price points and margins, this new system is counter to our full transparency style and not something we supported at all. This is WHY we stopped selling retail boxes the last few months.
We appreciate all of your guys love and support, we all have so many amazing memories and it's truly been a joy to be apart of your lives. Many of you have truly become family to us, and words cannot state how much your support means to us.
We will still be hosting events around the city, still be active online for all your guys need (don't worry, cheapest dice on the east coast will still be here for you). We will just be stepping back from the brick and mortar location for the foreseeable future, at least until long after Covid is gone. When it comes down to it, our health and our son are more important than the business, we need to make the best decisions to support Nyx and make sure he grows up the right way, especially with how crazy the world is now
We love you all, this isn't good bye 💜
