Rachel Marwedel
Staff Writer
Pocatello seems to be the queen of having hidden gems, and these stores are no exception. From Magic the Gathering cards to anime merch, to video games, these stores are a nerd’s safe haven.
Gate City Games
Inside Gate City Games, large posters with fantastical portraits line the walls and every fantasy-themed product you can think of lines the shelves. In the back, rows of plastic tables are set up, just waiting to be filled with cheering and laughter and tournaments. From minifigure paintings to Warhammer, to Dnd essentials, they have it all.
Owners Scott Vander Horn and Tambra Lockheart were out when I stopped by, but employee Bard told me all about their events. Gate City Games hosts Magic the Gathering on Friday nights at 7 pm, and Pokemon TCG at 3 pm on Saturdays. On the 3rd Saturday of each month, they also get together for miniature painting. Additionally, Gate City Games has a free-to-rent DnD room in the back, on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The store is located at 777 Yellowstone Ave., Suite A, Pocatello, ID. You can also reach them at (208) 904-4330. Gate City Games is open Monday through Saturday, 12 pm to 10 pm.
Tanoshi Anime and Toys
As you swing open the door, a Japanese girl’s voice greets you with “Thank you for your patronage!” There are bookshelves full of colorful novels with titles like “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” and random fuzzy Pokemon hanging from keychains. With turquoise walls and adorable chibi characters on every surface, Tanoshi easily makes any nerd feel right at home.
“Tanoshi means fun in Japanese.” Owner Deryl Langs explained to me. “We try to embody that by being colorful, cute, and welcoming. We’re a locally owned store specializing in light novels, manga, and anime culture in general.”
Tanoshi is located at 1023 Yellowstone Ave., Suite K, Pocatello, ID. They are open Monday through Saturday, 11 am to 7 pm.
Goblin Town Games
Exquisite miniature figurines lay haphazardly on the tables, and intricate airships were hung from the ceiling. Around the tables clustered in the middle of the store, pairs and groups were casually roleplaying: “A 1? Nice! Wipe the unit.” A hidden gem amidst a maze of blank white walls and concrete floors, Goblin Town Games is the last remnant of a once bustling mall.
Owner John Bates describes Goblin Town Games as a “One-stop gaming store for everybody. We have card games, role-playing games, board games… everything!” Currently, the store is running a sale for 20% off everything online and in-store.
Goblin Town Games hosts Pokemon Leagues on Wednesdays and Thursdays, starting at 4 p.m. They also host paint nights (for miniatures) every other month. Dnd campaigns run in the store and may be open to accepting new players upon request.
The store is located at 1800 Garrett Way Suite 10, Pocatello, ID (Hint! It’s around the back of the mall). They can be reached at (208) 242-3237 or found online at www.goblintowngames.com. Goblin Town Games is open Monday through Thursday 1 pm to 9 pm, Friday 2 pm to 10 pm, and Saturday 2 pm to 8 pm.
Xeus and Apollo’s
Walking into Xeus and Apollo’s immediately makes you feel at home – it’s messy and imperfect in the best ways. It’s a fusion of a 1950s diner and nerd store galore; portraits of ‘Boo’ from Mario are hung over classic diner booths. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a ‘Ghetto Shake’ or host a campaign, this family-owned store has you covered.
Xeus and Apollo’s has “…a little bit of everything – food, drinks, games. We like to be a safe environment for people to come hang out,” said Xues Gauna, owner. They run anything from DnD tournaments to Magic the Gathering tournaments to birthdays.
You can find Xeus and Apollo’s 538 S. Main St., Pocatello, ID. They can also be reached at (208) 233-0065, or found online at https://xeusefied.wixsite.com/xeus-and-apollos. Xeus and Apollo’s is open Monday through Saturday, 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., or 1 a.m. upon request.
Nerd Church
Nerd Church was the only store on the list to feature used video games – from Playstation to Xbox to Wii to even shelves of Sega Genesis and SNES cartridges. This section took up the front of the store, but further back sat a comfy, well-loved sofa amidst a mess of figurines, old consoles, nerf guns, and every nerd-related tool you could think of.
Zack Kelsey and Kelly Brown co-own this store but had to step out when I was there. Instead, I spoke to Shawn McClain, an employee. “We’re a store run by passionate gamers, keeping gaming affordable,” he said of Nerd Church.
Nerd Church runs Competitive Magic the Gathering on Fridays at 6 pm, and Casual Fighting Games on Saturdays at 6 pm. They’re also open to teaching people most games at any time.
Nerd Church is located at 318 E Center St., Pocatello, ID. You can reach them at (208) 233-0065. They’re open Tuesday – Saturday, 3 pm to 8 pm.
