“Welcome home, gamers!”
That’s the unofficial slogan of Sequim’s new hobby store Cardquest Gaming, say co-owners Douglas and Paula Offenheiser.
The 4,0000-square-foot shop at 271 S. Seventh Ave., Suite 26, spans three rooms for gamers of all tastes, from trading card games to traditional board games to role playing games to tabletop games to video games.
“We’re letting people help develop (what the store becomes),” Paula said. “It’s morphing into something really amazing.”
“The community is making it blossom,” Douglas said.
The idea for the shop started several months ago, the couple said.
“Our family sparked it,” Douglas said.
Their family members are all gamers, and Douglas recently got back into Magic: the Gathering, a fantasy-based trading card game.
“Being 41 and getting back into it, I’ve found there are a lot of parents wanting to get back into it too and share it with their children,” Douglas said.
“I love every aspect of gaming, and we want to give everyone a good, safe place to go.”
So far, they’ve found customers are eager for a hobby shop like theirs since opening on May 31.
While stocking inventory prior to the store’s opening, several people found the store and stopped in, the Offenheisers said.
Magic fans have already bought most of their initial stock in its first week with much more inventory to come, Douglas said.
“The community has been responsive and excited,” he said.
The couple owns and operates the Port Angeles-based employment agency Pacific Northwest Resourcing and said they felt Sequim needed a place for the community to go for positive evening events, too.
“Sequim was the perfect location and space,” Paula said.
“We wanted to give all the gamers a home,” Douglas said.
In the short time they’ve been open, Paula said they’ve been told numerous times, “We’ll do whatever you need to stay open.”
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Cardquest Gaming features three rooms for gaming, including trading cards and board games, video games and tabletop and role playing games.
Play time
Cardquest Gaming seems to offer something for most facets of gaming culture. For trading card games, they offer Magic, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Disney Lorcana, and more games to come based on players’ interests.
A game room features many tables and chairs for free play during store hours, including traditional board games.
Tournaments are in the works, the Offenheisers said, and will soon be posted on the shop’s website and Facebook page.
Following various donations of cards, Douglas said they’re putting together decks for children to try and keep. They’re also working to see how they can provide card decks for children in area hospitals.
“We see a lot of families come in to look, and we want them to have an experience,” Paula said. “We have some customers picking up on that and they want to help. I’m amazed at the generosity and still taken aback by it.”
Along with trading cards, the sales floor features action figures, mini figures for Warhammer 40,000 and Dungeons and Dragons, dice, board games, books, action figures, Funko Pops, snacks, drinks, and soon air fried food.
Customers can also rent video game consoles to play games on Xbox, Sony, Nintendo and other classic consoles.
Douglas said they buy, sell, trade trading cards and video games for store credit or cash. Everything is tested in store, and minors must have a parent/guardian present to trade in items.
“Doug is very fair,” Paula said of the store’s practices.
On store pricing, Douglas said, “it’s important to keep prices low and things moving.”
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Douglas Offenheiser readies a classic Nintendo Entertainment System for display in the video game section of his store, Cardquest Gaming in Sequim. He buys, sells and trades video games and consoles, along with trading cards. All electronics are tested in store, Offenheiser said.
There are classic and current video games for sale, along with numerous action figures in one corner of the store.
In another room, nicknamed the “War Room” for its table space and a locally-built terrain for tabletop role playing games, they space is free to play games, Douglas said. One terrain is for sale, with more likely to come, he said.
The Offenheisers have also connected with Sequim schools’ Dungeons and Dragons clubs, with hopes of hosting ongoing campaigns.
So far, the shop has hosted one Dungeons and Dragons meet-and-greet prompted by a customer in hopes of growing a group.
Cardquest Gaming also hosts a local craft corner of geek-inspired items, such as buttons, dice bags, and more made available for free to sell.
There’s much more to come as more inventory comes and input is received, such as Lego, special event nights, and more, the Offenheisers said.
The couple launched their website, CardQuestgaming.com, plan to update it more soon with an online store and calendar.
The couple also plans to launch a membership program for various discounts and other perks in the store.
The shop is open noon-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and noon-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday.
For more information, call 360-477-4622.
Cardquest Gaming
Location: 271 S. Seventh Ave., Suite 26
Hours: noon-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; noon-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday
Contact: 360-477-4622
Online: CardQuestgaming.com; facebook.com/people/Card-Quest-Gaming/61555827374912
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Paula Offenheiser shows some of the many game-inspired snacks available in Cardquest Gaming.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Cardquest Gaming at 271 S. Seventh Ave., Suite 26, Sequim features three rooms of gaming across 4,000 square feet, open seven days a week.
Role playing games, graphic novels, board games, and much more are offered inside Cardquest Gaming for sale.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Local customers created this terrain and have it on display for tabletop game use in Cardquest Gaming in Sequim. It’s also for sale.
Douglas Offenheiser loads up a video game in Cardquest Gaming’s video game area. Customers can rent console time to play video games on an array of consoles.
