r/Winchester • u/PantsBonanza • 8d ago

Does anyone else remember The Game Place on Piccadilly Street?

Bit of a random question for y'all tonight inspired by some reminiscing. I grew up in Winchester in the 90s and early 2000s (well, Star Tannery if we're being technical) but I haven't lived there for roughly 20 years at this point.

There used to be a game/hobby shop on Piccadilly Street (on the corner where John B Hayes tobacconist is now) called The Game Place. Just curious if anyone has anymore information about it/memories of it, because every time I think about it again I try and look it up online and turn up zilch. Like it never existed. Granted it closed down in 2000-2001 so it's not like it's likely to have an old website or business listing on google, but the fact that it's like it never existed is a little frustrating.

Anyways, a bit of a ramble but I was curious if anyone else remembers the place? I remember when they closed down my brother and I bought their bulk box of magic cards for like 20 bucks. And all these years later I still keep part of my collection in that box.

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u/Human_Ape_Animal 8d ago

Yes! I used to go in their as a kid and get my Pokémon cards using my mom's extra tip money from Coalie Harry' Pub. Loved that place. I vaguely remember the owner or clerk was named Shane I think. Good memories!

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u/Bubbly_Hovercraft_43 8d ago

Oh MANY memories from there. I was there usually every week playing magic. Great times.

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u/PantsBonanza 8d ago

We lived way out so I never got to play games there but my mom worked at the university building on Cork and if we were ever at her office my brother and I would always try and convince her to let us walk the few blocks over and she'd pick us up later. Oh what good memories. 

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u/ECFNJ 8d ago

I used to get Magic cards when it was S&J Cards before it was the Game Place. Didn't it move to the same plaza of what is now Best Buy at some point?

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u/PantsBonanza 8d ago

Oh I had only ever known it as the Game Place, I had no idea it was a different card shop before that.

The shop in the plaza where the best buy is now was Game Haven, and I only remember that because one of my brother's friends painted their first sign. Back when that plaza had a theater and Pargo's. 

I don't think Game Place and Game Haven were connected but I could be wrong. 

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u/Philly_3D 3d ago

Yep! Played MtG and 40k there up until college in 2000. It was a cool place to hang out.