All Things Fun, West Berlin, NJ
All Things Fun is my local game store
All Things Fun is a good family oriented store that sells all manner of games and toys that you would not find in Wal-Mart, Target and Toys-R-Us. They specialize in items that have a much smaller print/production run and target audience. They have a large selection of comic books, for a store that does not sell exclusively comic books and collectibles. They also sell toys for younger children that are more often than not educational and fun. The board game section is nice and has many titles from smaller publishers and those that can go out of print before they really take off. They have a section for role playing games, that they stock based on customer demand. They have set aside part of the store where tournaments and demonstrations are held on a regular basis.
What really sets this store apart from others of the type is the open bright feel to the whole store. I have been in many comic shops and game specialty stores where it is cramped and dark and generally not too pleasant. All Things Fun is just the opposite. I feel like I am in a store for everyone, not just a small select group. The store's atmosphere is contemporary, clean and happy. On occasion the tournament section can get crowded and loud, but not every weekend.
I am not a comic book fan. Don't hate me for it, just understand that I have different tastes than you. To me the comic book section appears to have a wide variety. Ed Evans is one of the owners and he seems to have a deep knowledge of the market and stock. Not all of the comics are age appropriate for everyone looking and Ed is more than quick to make a quick note in a parental ear to explain why. Other times Ed has had a customer come to the store looking for a gift and been able to present a good variety of choices. Especially if the recipient is a regular customer. All Things Fun also offers a subscription service so regulars do not miss their favorites.
The board and war game section is another area where they shine. They have a good mix of games from publishers as large as Hasbro (Avalon Hill, Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley, Wizards of the Coast etc.) to as small as Alien Menace and Cheapass Games (black and white envelope games where you need to supply some parts). They have games that are family oriented like "Apples to Apples" and "Settlers of Catan" to some very niche games like "Munchkin" and "Federation Commander". There are quick games like "Flux" and long games like "Iron Dragon" on the shelves. Between Ed and Dina, Ed's wife and other owner, they can help the customers find just the game they want.
There is a section of the store devoted to the newer collectible card and miniatures games. Some of the card games they carry are Magic, Yugi-Oh, Pokemon, Naruto, Vs., Battlestar Galactica, and more than I can remember. They carry HeroClix, HorrorClix, D&D, Starwars, Dreamblade and more miniatures and starter sets. Many of these are actively supported by the store in the form of tournaments and casual play events. They always seem to have good current stock of these types of games.
The role playing game section of the store is mostly Dungeons and Dragons, but there is a good mix of other stuff too. However any RPG player knows that the universe of these games is very diverse, yet the audience is mostly D&D players. Currently the store hosts at least two in store games, the RPG world tour and an Earthdawn campaign.
The store hosts events every day that they are open. One of the best events is the weekly Wednesday Open Board Game Night. The crowd is mostly adults and older teens. The games played are eclectic at best with a good bit of quick, light, fun games that tend to get played on a almost regular basis. Some favorites are "James Earnest's Totally Renamed Spy Game", and "Lord of the Fries". Starting time is about 6:30. Requirements are simply a willingness to try new things and no cheating (unless encouraged by the rules). Bring your own favorite games as long as they are still in print or otherwise available.
I recommend that anyone looking for a good friendly place to get into the comic and game hobbies to try All Things Fun. As a testament to the quality of the store, I know that there are numerous regular customers who drive by other similar stores on their way to All Things Fun.
One final note, like most specialty and boutique stores they need to have a good program to special order items for their customers. The process at All Things Fun is easy and usually has a good turn around time. The only time that they have trouble is when things are out of print and the available supply at the wholesale level is near zero. Then again I have seen them get such items in under a week.
Store Web Site
- All Things Fun
- Store hours, directions, phone numbers and calendar are available on the store's web site at http://www.allthingsfun.net