Friday, October 12, 2012

Community Spotlight - Pendragon

Every three months we include a Community Spotlight article in our newsletter. This last issue included an interview with Pendragon. The interview, in its entirety, is posted below.


"We sell fun!" that's how John explained his business to me when I recently visited him in his store, Pendragon Games and Hobbies. John and his wife Linda have been in the business of selling board games for almost 40 years. He opened his first store in Ottawa in the 1970's, and his wife ran the store while he was off on military duty. In 1982, he opened a store in downtown Winnipeg, and for the past 8 years, he has been at his current location at 1354 Main Street, on the corner of Main and Cathedral.

John sells all kinds of games - farming, action, family oriented, decision based and role playing ones. They come from all over the world, China, India, Germany, Switzerland, and they are all English editions. Were you aware that the earliest version of a board game was found in Ancient Egypt? 

Aside from carrying the traditional board games that most of us grew up with such as Monopoly, Chess, Checkers, and Cribbage, John also carries such popular ones as Dungeons and Dragons, Ticket to Ride, a cross country train adventure game which outsells Monopoly in Europe, and the Settlers of Catan, an award winning game of Discovery Settlement and Trade. 

He also sells games that have been made out of a TV series such as Pillars of the Earth, pocket books based on the games, t-shirts, and Dungeon and Dragon figurines. The figurines come in a steel gray color and can be painted. He carries a good selection of paint colors, as well as a booklet on how to paint them. Prices for the board games range anywhere from $20.00 to $80.00. He doesn't sell computer games, but he does buy and sell used board games.

John pulled out one of the display games to show me and I couldn't help but be impressed by what I saw - exceptional graphics, nice visual representation, and detailed figurines. If you would like to try one out before you buy, he would be more than happy to demonstrate one for you.

There is no major board gaming convention held in Canada, so John has to travel to the US or Europe to see the latest board games in the industry. 

John shared with me as we talked that he would like to put on a game demonstration evening at the local high school or library, but, for now, in the lower level meeting space of his building, he holds game nights. Wednesday evenings is 4E D&D Encounters at 6:00 pm, followed by Casual Games Play at 7:00 pm. Thursday at 6:30 pm is the Pathfinder Society RPG play, and Fridays at 6:30 pm, Magic the Gathering Card Game Play. Pendragon Games and Hobbies meeting space is also available to rent for your meetings. 

If you have fond memories of a particular board game from your past, drop by and talk to John, maybe he can help you find it. Pendragon opens at 10:00 am Monday to Saturday, and closes at 6:00 pm, Fridays at 9:00pm. The store is closed on Sundays. If you would like more information please contact John at 772-5415. There is no website but they have a Facebook page.

Their Facebook page can be found at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pendragon-Games-Hobbies/115539495130521.

No comments:

Post a Comment