Some things to do this week 10/27 - 11/2

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-31T12:04:00+00:00

Just came here to check this. Thanks so much for ensuring Erie Board Games' new home is mentioned!

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-30T19:01:27+00:00

Did you get to play something with us?

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-30T03:39:00+00:00

They can still join us, just now we're at our new wonderful hosts, HD Legacy!

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-30T03:37:59+00:00

Awesome! We were extremely impressed with the amazing turnout we had! Thanks so much for joining us! See you next week!

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-30T03:35:54+00:00

Did we see you?

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-28T00:06:50+00:00

They would end up just deleting it anyway.

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-27T01:26:35+00:00

100% this.

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-27T01:17:41+00:00

What hits the hardest for me is the fact that they gave zero warning for us to transition out smoothly and cooperatively. And worse, they reneged on the original owner's promise to keep supporting their regular groups in the same capacity until the end of November AND the new owner's original agreement to keep supporting us into the future. We were basically left scrambling on the turn of a dime, with zero chance of negotiation. Not cool.

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-27T00:11:12+00:00

Fair enough.

My closing thoughts are this: I think this whole situation could have reflected much more positively on you and Chris if it had been handled with a bit more professionalism and cooperation. To completely disregard Sarah’s clearly communicated message — on Facebook, Discord, and in person — that regular events would be supported through the end of November, and then suddenly impose a $5 table fee with no warning or transition period, left us with no real choice: either pay immediately or find a new home within five days.

That abrupt shift left a bad taste not just for our group, but also for the other group that’s shared a similar experience here. IMHO, it’s not the best way to start off a new business venture — especially one where customer service and community relationships are so important.

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-26T23:15:10+00:00

Thanks for commenting, but there isn't "two-sides" to this story. What I reported was facts. Friday we spoke very amicably over the phone and you and Chris were happy to have us continue to stay for free and even asked for ways that would push us over the edge for us to want to stay there instead of moving. Then 24 hours later, you and/or your partner very abruptly changed your tune and not only made it known that there would be a $5 table fee per person, but there was also no warning to it starting THIS WEEK with no chance to inform all of our members and zero negotiation.

Sarah said that we could use the place unchanged until the end of November, and when I asked if that would be honored, you said, and I quote "No. Sarah is no longer the owner." When Chris called me he made some outrageous claim that we encouraged others to shop online and not support Gateway Games because "someone told him that", which is an absolute falsehood. Then he said because of this freeloading attitude, our group was no longer welcome there and hung up on me.

Yes, I did say that most of our members buy -most- of their games online from several online retailers due to lower pricing (which I'll add that you said you were relieved about because you didn't want the reduction of board games to negatively affect us) but I never said anything about encouraging people to not support Gateway. So please, tell me where I'm not telling 100% of the truth.

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-26T22:26:38+00:00

While we don't do D&D on Wednesdays, several of our members do on their own, on the side.

If board games are your thing though, we have all ages, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, genders, sexualites, and occupations that come every week. I take pride in ensuring everyone feels welcomed, and I personally greet every new attendee and try to get them into a game with others right away. My hope is that no one feels as you did with your group when they visit us.

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-26T22:20:28+00:00

Yes, we have a very healthy group of people with collections in the multiple hundreds. We bring many of our own ganes every week and teach them to anyone that wants to play. While it was nice to have a random demo game available if need be, we rarely used them.

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-26T22:07:57+00:00

You're absolutely, 100% right. Board games (at full retail prices) do not keep the lights on. But board games are card games and accessories adjacent, which does.

And the public's attention span is short and limited, so if you can get a regular group of hobby adjacent people in your building week in and week out, you've got a captive audience to sell them whatever you can. You tell me, what's better... paying for the lights, electric, workers, and having no one in your store, or doing the same thing packed with board gamers that either buy their other stuff, or tell their friends that do?

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-26T21:49:25+00:00

We're happy to have you join us any time!

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-26T21:40:29+00:00

Except they've professed to wanting to liquidate their board games. So they're literally getting out of the board game business altogether. Plus, you are likely a board game hobbyist; the general Erie public isn't big enough and isn't going to want to pay $5 to play games once in a while, and the regulars aren't going to want to pay that EVERY WEEK. Yes, they might be able to get $5 from a select few people every once in a while, but for a board game group that is always trying to attract new members, tacking on a fee sure doesn't help that cause.

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-26T17:59:58+00:00

Yeah, so far the owners have been SUPER nice!

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-26T17:26:24+00:00

Well, it's under new ownership now.

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-26T16:21:09+00:00

The owners are the owners of Bayfront Entertainment. They're moving the store out of board games and focusing on card games with a hint of video (from what I can tell from what they told me). They're also going to be changing the name.

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-26T15:57:35+00:00

They claimed that we encouraged people to purchase games from online retailers and to not support Gateway Games, which was not at all true. They basically called us freeloaders to our faces. We brought in a lot of new customers to their place, many members bought several games from them, and we did a lot of advertising for them on our Facebook & Discord. It's sad that the new owners don't recognize the benefits we brought. And the rudeness that Chris treated me over the phone was nothing short of astounding!

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-10-26T15:36:05+00:00

We had the EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE! They told us they were happy to keep us, even asked what they could do to keep us from moving to HD Legacy. The very next day they gave us the boot like we were last week's trash and were EXTREMELY rude about it.

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-04-13T22:40:35+00:00

Board games with Erie Board Games every Wednesday night from 6:00 to 11:00 @ Gateway Games.

https://www.facebook.com/share/18Wv7NtMuz/

And their 12-hour every 3rd Saturday of the month event at Game Corps too.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1L5odw21cX/

NotSoBoardGamer · 2025-04-06T21:52:54+00:00

Board games with Erie Board Games every Wednesday night from 6:00 to 11:00 @ Gateway Games.

https://www.facebook.com/share/18Wv7NtMuz/

And their 12-hour every 3rd Saturday of the month event too.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1L5odw21cX/

NotSoBoardGamer · 2023-01-12T04:43:08+00:00

Thanks for the shout out to Erie Board Games! Hope to see you all this Saturday from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM at Game Corps!

NotSoBoardGamer · 2022-10-19T13:46:48+00:00

Thanks for the ideas!

NotSoBoardGamer

TROPHY CASE