I just got back from a short trip to Vancouver, British Columbia. While there, I made a trip out to Imperial Hobbies.
It's a bit out of the way... and it's moved locations since I was last here.
The kids and I stopped in for an afternon a decade a go. It was a long ride on the Skytrain, but the old location was across the street from one of the stations. Now it's a 20 minute walk from the station.
It's an old store that's been around a long time... and they just have SO MUCH STUFF!
Wall o'Minatures... It just went on forever!?
This isn't even ALL of the miniatures. This is just a wall of blister packs. Across from it, almost the entire length is shelves full of BOXES full of minitures and terrain and rules for all sorts of historical and fantastical miniature games... and then the next aisle over had even MORE!?
Some of the Bolt Action stuff...
More Bolt Action stuff...
I was taking pictures of Bolt Action stuff because I was texting them to Orion... I should have taken more pictures of ALL THE OTHER STUFF! I guess it was a little overwhelming! Lots of games and minis no one else I know of in Canada stocks. Lots of out of print miniatures and games.
They even had a couple of boxes of Great Escape Games minis - including these Hungarians... which I brought back for Orion (how could I NOT!? this box including two ten man rifle squads AND a six man command squad was the same price as a single squad from Warlord Games!?)
There were also SO MANY BOOKS....
This looked really interesting and I'm kind of kicking myself for not picking it up while I was there...
I know what you're thinking... I spent a LOT of money here.... and... you're not wrong... but... There's a BIG BUT!!!
Amanda came along for the trip and we did buy almost $600 worth of stuff... The friendly staff pointed out that I could buy a membership for $25 and with that any purchases over $300 got 20% off... so we did that and ended up spending a little over $500 (with taxes and the membership...).
Here's the thing... most of it wasn't for me!
Beyond the Hungarians I picked up for Orion, we ended up buying a BUNCH of role-playing game books for Finnegan!! I was texting back and forth with him and there were a bunch of things here that he was interested in... and... he probably would have paid us back for them... But Amanda was feeling like we've done SO MUCH for Morgan (they got TWO trips paid for this year, including flights, accomodations, food... not to mention years of dance classes, all the while Finnegan has asked for NOTHING...) so we decided to just get it all for him...
bunch of big books for D&D/fantasy role-playing and My Little Pony...
smaller book of magic stuff for D&D5E that just didn't fit into the picture above...
What did I get for myself...? Two books out of the half-price bin at the back...
The older edition of Chain of Command (since SO MANY people have recommended it to me in the comments!) and a Skirmish Elite book of scenarios for WW2 - it was for Italians and Australians in North Africa - which I HAVE, so... Although, perusing it later, I realized I'd STILL need to get more things to play out a few of the scenarios...
and that's it... there were a LOT of other things I was super tempted to buy... I could have EASILY spent over $500 on myself... Once I got going, I'd have found it hard to know where to draw the line... and I decided I could always just mail order some of it at a later date if, after getting home, I was feeling like I still REALLY needed it!!
While I was in Vancouver, I also picked up a couple other books by illustrators that I like the work of - Dave McKeen and Ralph Steadman. (not at Imperial Hobbies - at another used book store I went in while wandering around with Morgan).
Posts
Wargamers heaven!! What a cracking looking shop Tim, so many goodies there, I can see why it would be a tad overwhelming!
ReplyDeleteThere were also entire aisle of board games... and role-playing games... and model kits... and comics and graphic novels!? and a gaming area! The place was HUGE!! I could have spent a few more hours in there...
DeleteIt's so tempting to pick up so much stuff in stores like that when you're travelling! I get that feeling in independent bookstores and game stores and hobby stores and such in various places. I have come home with heavy suitcases. I have shipped boxes of stuff home. And on road trips I have come home with more baggage than I left home with. ha ha
ReplyDeleteThese days, I do try to ask myself, which items are things I could order online vs things I could probably only get there and then. And also, which items do I really want to lug around, depending on my mode of transportation and how much travelling around I'll be doing before I get home.
I did ask if I bought stuff if they'd ship it home for me and they said normally they would... but they also normally use Canada Post... and Canada Post is on strike right now, so... they weren't sure if they were doing any mail order as alternative shipping service has not yet been arranged...
DeleteThe unfortunate thing is they don't have a proper online catalogue, for mail ordering you apparently just have to contact them by email and ask if they have things and then sort out what you want and pay them... So it was good to go and see what they had as very little of it is listed and hopefully when the Canada Post labour dispute is sorted out they'll still have the few things I know I FOR SURE wanted to get!!
What a store!
ReplyDeleteAlan Tradgardland
Yeah, the only other thing like it I've experienced is The Sentry Box in Calgary, Alberta... which may actually have MORE games and miniatures... But they are JUST games and miniatures - no comics or model kits... or... limited comics and model kits - they DO have almost an entire bookstore of just fantasy novels (and there may be some graphic novels/comics among those!)
DeleteWow, what a store! Last time we were in Vancouver we stayed in the downtown area, so did not get out that far, but it looks like we should have!
ReplyDeleteMy local is pretty great, but they lack a lot of historical stuff, concentrating mostly on Bolt Action and various Warlords side games that will be canceled in a few years. Being able to look at miniatures in person is part of the fun, and makes for quick comparisons.
I had thought I might not bother this time... I'm glad I did though. As you say, it is really handy to see things in person sometimes. Even if I'm not buying it right away, just to make mental notes... As I said though... I probably could have done with a few more hours to look at things and compare and make notes...
DeleteI was a little surprised how little GW product they had compared to some other things (like Bolt Action)! Not sure if it's because there are so many other stores selling Warhammers they don't bother with it as much... or so many people buying warhammers, they just can't keep stuff in stock!?
Sweet! Stores like that are getting rare
ReplyDeleteFor sure!
Delete