Why open a video game store during a global pandemic?

2020 might have been a year of video game sales, but it has affected other companies in a very negative way. Cinemas and restaurants have been forced to close to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and while video game sales have been booming thanks to digital and online purchases, physical retail stores with no way to remotely sell have seen their footfall decline; These brick and mortar shops have really felt the pressures of local closures and other restrictions on face-to-face trade.

You might think that is worst Possible time to open such a store, but this did not stop Richard Tookesbury. You might remember it from a feature we haven’t had in a long time; Via the online store of Game Boy Shack, he’s been selling modified games and systems for years, and his stall has been a regular face at live events across the UK – until 2020 of course.

With his income from events dropping to zero, Richard used it as an opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream instead – to have an actual retail store in his hometown of Leicester in the UK (which also happens to be the closest city to Nintendo Life’s Loughborough HQ, fact lovers).

If you have been following the coronavirus pandemic in the UK, you may be aware that Leicester was one of the first British cities to shut down earlier this year, and is currently located at ‘Level 3’ – essentially the highest of the three levels set by the kingdom’s government. United. While this still allows non-essential stores to remain open, the situation in the country – and indeed the entire world – remains balanced on the knife’s edge, and the UK has just come out of a “circuit breaker” closure that could easily be repeated again in near future. However, Richard opened his store as planned and found the reception to be incredibly positive.

Super Game Shack is located near the main shopping complex in town, and its owner has described it as something of a geek’s paradise; Inside, you’ll find old games and systems, stuffed Nintendo games, modified Game Boy consoles, video game merchandise and even Japanese sweets and drinks. Richard has stated that he wants to have a small workspace in the store so he can continue creating his own branded Game Boy consoles, and that over time, retro fans will be able to visit him to trade in old (and new) games either with cash or credit from Store, which will enable it to maintain a good turnover of pre-owned securities.

If you are a UK resident and headquartered in Leicestershire (restrictions mean no travel between counties), be sure to visit Super Game Shack and say hi to Rich (you can also follow the store via his Instagram and Facebook pages). He hopes the store will be successful enough to truly become a constant in town – and from what we’ve seen so far, it totally deserves it.

Super Game Shack can be found at Unit 4, Silver Arcade, Leicester.

Michael McCann

Evil tv scholar. Proud twitter aficionado. Travel ninja. Hipster-friendly zombie fanatic.

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Why open a video game store during a global pandemic? – Feature

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