Business Spotlight: It's Game On at Nerdvana
Submitted by Brett Fisher on Tue, 01/19/2016 - 9:49am
Just about every night is family game night at Nerdvana, a local gaming supply and collectibles store in east Carson City.
Store co-owner Jim Williamson describes he and his son’s venture as a family and veteran-oriented business that specializes in providing a venue for table top games.
“The business model is community,” he said. “People can come in and use the tables at no charge. It’s a place for them to bring their families” for role-playing games and tournaments.
The interior of the 1,200 square-foot storefront features several large rectangular tables available for board and table game play. There are numerous game themes to play, such as “Star Wars’ X-Wing,” “Wizards of the Coast” and “Magic: The Gathering,” as well as an old favorite, “Dungeons and Dragons.”
“People are discovering it’s more fun to come in and play rather than play on the computer,” Williamson said.
At Nerdvana, gaming fans can experience bonafide three-dimensional games played the old-fashioned way with game boards, cards, die, and game pieces. It’s a difference experience playing a game that one can feel and touch, as well as see and hear.
Every Friday night Nerdvana hosts a “Magic: The Gathering” tournament event from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Williamson says 30-40 people show up and participate in the tournament on an average Friday evening.
Wednesdays and Saturdays are set aside for “Dungeons and Dragons” enthusiasts, whose games are presided over by a professional dungeons master, Williamson said.
Nerdvana also prides itself as veteran friendly. Majority owner Bob Williamson is a U.S. Army and Afghanistan War veteran who served seven years on active duty in the military, his father Jim said.
“He (Bob) wanted a place where veterans could come and be safe,” Jim Williamson said. “We want veterans to know we have their six here.”
Both veterans and active duty military personnel receive a 10 percent discount at Nerdvana, Williamson said. The business also sponsors veteran’s dinners twice a year, he added.
Nerdvana moved from its old location on Old Hot Springs Road to 3220 Highway 50 East, Suite 2, in the CVS shopping center on Dec. 6.
The new location is a bit smaller than the old space at 1,600 total square feet, but Williamson said the move was made so that Nerdvana could operate in a more retail-friendly environment.
“The space we were at (on Old Hot Springs Road) was industrial zoned and a warehouse,” he said. It was drafty with high, exposed ceilings.
Nerdvana is open weekdays, Monday through Friday, from 12-9 p.m., and on weekends 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
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