You Can Play and Shop for Board Games at This New Philly Store
The Philly Game Shop just opened in Queen Village.
![philly game shop](https://cdn10.phillymag.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/Philly-game-shop-lede.jpg)
Inside The Philly Game Shop, there are shelves of games to browse, and tables where visitors can play. Photographs courtesy Taylor Jenkins
There’s no question that board games are having a moment. Maybe it’s thanks to Millennials and our need to cling to all things nostalgic. Maybe it’s an analog backlash against technology creeping into every corner of life — even the really basic stuff, like breathing and drinking water. Maybe it’s because there are some actually fun, new games out providing alternatives to Monopoly (a friendship ender) or Scrabble (a friendship ender, for nerds).
Or maybe it’s just that board games have always been fun, but now we have cooler, better places to play them that aren’t our parents’ basements.
![philly game shop](https://cdn10.phillymag.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/philly-game-shop-exterior.jpg)
Photographs courtesy Taylor Jenkins
Philly just got another cooler, better place to play games in the form of The Philly Game Shop, which officially opened in Queen Village on Wednesday. The woman-owned and operated shop is headed up by Taylor Jenkins, who says she wanted to offer a “cozy and inclusive alternative to the standard game/comic shop model.”
“We believe board games are for everyone and everyone should feel welcome in our space,” says Jenkins.
![philly game shop](https://cdn10.phillymag.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/philly-game-shop-entrance-838x1024.jpg)
Photographs courtesy Taylor Jenkins
![philly game shop](https://cdn10.phillymag.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/philly-game-shop-desk.jpg)
Photographs courtesy Taylor Jenkins
The store currently has about 300 different games in stock, but Jenkins says they’re always looking to add more. Additionally, they’ve got a library of about 20 games that anyone can come in to play during business hours for a flat fee of $3. Unlike the nearby Queen & Rook — which opened in Queen Village on September 13th — The Philly Game Shop won’t serve a food and drink menu. Rather, it’s a retail store with tables for gaming, plus a back room that can be rented for $8 per hour for private game nights.
![philly game shop](https://cdn10.phillymag.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/09/philly-game-shop-back.jpg)
Photographs courtesy Taylor Jenkins
Want to check it out for yourself? The Philly Game Shop is located at 519 South 5th Street.