Love collectibles, comics and games? Here’s some of the best Olympia area stores to visit
Fans of comics, cards and games can explore their passions and even find community at several shops in the Olympia area.
The Olympian recently visited six local stores, some of which are renowned in the region and a few that may be lesser known, to create a guide for those with geeky passions.
You won’t find a GameStop or Barnes and Noble on this guide. What you will find are places with local character that cater to people who love superheroes, fantastical worlds, collecting cards, tabletop games, building with LEGOs and more.
Read on to see if your favorite store made the guide or to discover some place new. If there’s anything we missed, make sure to leave a comment to let others know.
Gabi’s Olympic Cards and Comics
It’s no secret that Gabi’s Olympic Cards and Comics is the largest and perhaps most-loved comic bookstore in the Olympia area.
The store, located at 4230 Pacific Ave. SE, has drawn crowds of enthusiasts for decades. Anyone who sets foot in the building for the first time may be immediately struck by the plethora of items on display.
At one end, customers can find impressive rows of comic books and graphic novels, including popular superhero stories and independent works. Equally impressive is the number of board and roleplaying games that fill the street-facing side of the store.
A wall of Funko Pop figures lines a wall near a set of registers, which themselves are propped on glass cases filled with intricately detailed knee-high statues. Across from these registers is another section with a variety of smaller statues depicting the likes of Superman and Batman in heroic poses.
Tables line a second floor where people can play games, read or just hang out. Tournaments and other special events also are held here.
Gabi Trautman has operated and owned the store for about three decades. In that time, she has built the current facility, created a social services hub and started a non-profit.
Mitch Netzer of the Omnibuddy YouTube channel recently published an extensive documentary video profiling Trautman and the shop.
The Toy Box Collectibles
From the street, this shop may appear unassuming. Yet, once inside you’ll find a densely packed assortment of vintage toys, comics, books and video games that may surprise you.
The Toy Box Collectibles is located in a small blue building at 5868 Pacific Ave. SE in Lacey. Co-owners and married couple Melanie and Ryan McConkey said they chose to open the store in 2009 after amassing a large collection themselves.
Since then, they have expanded the store at the same location and filled it to the ceiling with even more collectibles.
They stock various generations of older video game consoles, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System, original Xbox and much more. Likewise, they carry a large collection of used video games for these older systems.
The store also features older comic books, including notable and obscure issues. Seemingly every corner of the shop has been decorated with used toys and figures for sale, from dinosaurs to aliens as well as superheroes and video game characters.
The sheer breadth of deep-cut items on display will likely create profound nostalgia in people across generations.
Danger Room Comics
Passersby can spot Danger Room Comics at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Columbia Street Southwest in downtown Olympia.
Despite its name, the shop is a welcoming place that dates to early 1990s. It’s run by co-owners Casey Bruce and Frank Hussey, who took over the shop in September 2010 from the previous owners Patrick Mapp and Kendra Jennings, The Olympian previously reported.
Since then, the duo has created a kids section that includes comics for younger readers, and added board games. Hussey previously said they strive to bring in the “family customer.”
However, the shop still features a range of superhero, genre and alternative comics as well as graphic novels that appeal to older audiences. The shop also sells some T-shirts and superhero action figures.
With this mix of content, the owners have curated a shop where almost anyone can find something that interests them. It’s fitting then, that their motto is, “Everyone should read comics, no exceptions!”
Jason’s Corner at The Fifth Avenue Flea Market
The Fifth Avenue Flea Market on Adams Street hosts one of the best toy and game shops in downtown Olympia, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at its facade.
Many customers don’t even know it until they stumble upon it in the back of the shop. That’s where you’ll find Jason’s Corner.
Jason, who declined to share his last name, buys and sells Magic: The Gathering Cards, Pokémon Cards, action figures, Transformers, video games, DVDs, comics and more.
His corner is chock full of these items, many of which are vintage and some of which are relatively new. Jason said he chose to open the shop at the market a few years ago to turn his hobby into something that could make other people happy.
“I really enjoy talking to people and seeing what they’re interested in,” Jason said. “Having those kinds of conversations is fun for me.”
Jason said people will often walk into the market only expecting to see antiques.
“When they come around the corner, they get really excited because they grew up with this kind of stuff,” Jason said.
Much of the collection involves superheroes from Marvel and DC, but there are also some items that may delight fans of Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and anime.
The Brickhouse
You may not have spotted this unique toy store on Pacific Avenue between Lacey and Olympia.
The Brickhouse is a LEGO builder’s haven located at 2747 Pacific Ave. SE, Suite A7, in Olympia. Bryan and Jeff Turner, a father and son duo, bought the store in 2015, according to a ThurstonTalk article. It features both new and used LEGO sets, as well as mini figures and accessories.
Boxes upon boxes of sets from popular brands line the walls, including Star Wars, Marvel, DC and more. These boxes overlook an array of display cases with completed structures, vehicles and characters lined in perfect formation.
A finished Hogwarts castle stood tall next to other impressive buildings in a center table during a recent visit. The entire display drew onlookers who appeared fascinated by what these tiny bricks could create.
Beyond the displays are large tables covered in miscellaneous LEGO pieces for customers with particular needs to pick through.
Even if you don’t build LEGOs, the shop is worth a visit to see the artistry on display.
Super Smash Video Games Olympia
Many gamers tend to visit large retail stores to buy the latest games, but those looking for a retro fix can stop by Super Smash Video Games in west Olympia.
This store offers used video games and consoles from seemingly every bygone generation of Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation and Xbox systems. It’s located at 1520 Cooper Point Road, across from Walgreens. There is another location in Tacoma.
A massive, life-size statue of Halo’s Master Chief guards the front entrance while games line the walls and display cases. Behind the register, customers can see what retro and current generation consoles are in stock.
Given the size of the collection, someone who recalls playing on older consoles will likely come across many memorable favorite games.
Michele Lindstrom, the store manager, said the store buys items and accepts trades ins. She added they try to be fair with their prices and avoid price gouging trends.
If an item is defective, Lindstrom said customers can return within seven days to try to replace the item. They also offer to troubleshoot the item for a $5 diagnostic fee, but she said they cannot repair items.
This story was originally published January 20, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
