Game Corps LLC is a Hub for Local Gamers: Community Gems

There's a place in Erie County that has a host of games to play and purchase. That place will be hosting a 12 hour long board game event this weekend.

John Gapinski can say his dream, came true.

"I would think to myself maybe one day I would actually open a game store of my own," said Gapinski. "Have a place for people to play and just be around other like minded people." 

Gapinski opened Game Corps LLC  in 2010. The business along Buffalo Road in Wesleyville is all about card-inspired board games.

"In the last 10 years or so the board game industry has really branched out," said Gapinski. "All these people that grew up playing these board games you mentioned, Monopoly stuff like that, they've had really creative ideas with the tools that are out there now they've been able to make new styles of play." 

Like sci-fi, fantasy, and pop culture games. This board game haven has evolved as a place to play games, and buy them too. 

"There was so many people who helped me, taught me how to play and I've been coming here every since," said William Gartner. 

William Gartner starting coming to Game Corps a few years after it opened to the public.

An events calendar can be found on the store's Facebook page, as well as in the store. The calendar has information on events the store hosts, along with tournaments and leagues. 

The biggest expansion of all is live streaming, done in the back of the store.

"We will take these popular games like Pokémon and Magic the Gathering and we will put up a live stream," said Gapinski. "Bring in a couple hundred people and if you purchase a pack from us we will open your pack right there for you live."

It's the same area where cards and other store items are shipped all over the U.S. 

"A year ago I had been working the store by myself for the last 5 or 6 years," said Gapinski. "Seven days a week nothing but me now we have 11 or 12 employees and the live streaming has been an absolute boon or our company."

While John says you can be part of live streams, it all starts at the store.

"I foresee us having an even broader selection," said Gapinski. "More amenities for our customers."

The goal is to bring options to customers that support this local board game gem. 

On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Game Corps will host a 12 hour long board game event.

It's a monthly event put on by the group Erie Board Games. The event is free and open to the public. 

Game Corps is located at 2920 buffalo Rd., in Erie. Parking is behind the store, and you can enter from the back.

Bring your own board game, play one of the dozens that will be brought by members of our group, or borrow one from the Game Corps library.

Don't worry about not knowing the games, everyone that comes is happy to teach what they brought.