Independent game shops in Manhattan

I loved those stores except for Games & James (never been there, was looking for it till someone told me it wasn't there anymore). Game Express is still open, but not the one next to 32nd Games.

What's wrong with Chinatown stores? If you're talking about J&L and the store downstairs in Elizabeth Center, then I agree, their prices are nothing to brag about. If you go to other stores, their prices are great but you might not find what you're looking for. You can always haggle too (this usually only works if you're not white, since it's widely believed that Caucasians are rich).

[quote name='whitereflection']...(this usually only works if you're not white, since it's widely believed that Caucasians are rich).[/QUOTE] I must be the exception. I can usually haggle them down $7-$10 dollars on preowned games.

Games and James is long gone. I think the Game Express on 32nd street is still there, but its a shell of its former self. It seems to survive mostly by selling anime dvd's. Theres always that great store on St. Marks, where you can get any game for any system ever made. Not the cheapest prices in the world, but not bad considering they full well understand the rarity and collectibility of old games. Way better than buying the same game on Ebay in most cases. And of course theres a couple good shops on Elizibeth street in Chinatown, where as others have mentioned, you can haggle. Im snowy white and I haggle with them, as long as you dont look and act like you just fell off the turnip truck you should be fine.

Game Express in Herald Square is totally gone; I think the building itself was torn down. What game stores are there in Chinatown other than J&L and the Elizabeth St. Mall?

[quote name='Puffa469']I think the Game Express on 32nd street is still there, but its a shell of its former self. It seems to survive mostly by selling anime dvd's. [/QUOTE]

Yeah, quite dead. They went out of business a week after I last visited it. Even then it really wasn't worth walking around. The only things they really had were new releases and anime DVDs and considering that anime DVDs have been much cheaper online over the past few years and in larger B&M stores...well, they didn't have a chance.

Oh well, at least it was better than when they tried to set up a cell phone section in the front of the store. I don't know what they were thinking but that was short-lived. They pretty much got rid of everything that made the store special, which was pretty much the art books, the imported games, systems, peripherals, and game music...oh, and their staff. Shame, that. They turned me onto Giga Wing, Giga Wing 2, Bangai-o and so many other now hard-to-find games just because they were amazing and nobody else was looking at them. They were amazing, especially when they would pop in videos of some of these games just to show you what the gameplay was like. Damned if they didn't get a good portion of my paycheck during my lunch breaks when I was working on 7th Avenue.

They will be missed...

Hey does anyone know where I can find a dreamcast cheap in the city? I'd imagine EBgames/Gamestop would be more than it was worth.

Game Express on 32nd is gone? I used to go there all through college ('92-'96) and for years after (whenever I was back in Manhattan).

Is Games N James the one that was next to Parson's School of Design? That was cool, too, but you couldn't turn around in that store if you had a backpack on, it was so small.

[quote name='Haggar']Game Express on 32nd is gone? I used to go there all through college ('92-'96) and for years after (whenever I was back in Manhattan).[/QUOTE]

Yeah, pretty much. Shame, too. Save for two or three EBs, I've never met a more dedicated staff of workers in a game store before. Angel was the man, he really was. I still love the fact that they would push games by bringing them home, recording their progress on a VCR, and bringing it into work to show off to potential customers. Nothing better than being able to show off the hottest 30 titles or so at a moment's notice and making some major sales.

Another disappointment is what happened to the Manhattan Mall. I used to love hitting the gigantic food court and some of the stores on the lower floors when I walked around midtown or so. Now there's...well, there's nothing really worthwhile going on in there, although the EB there tends to get lucky with a few PO titles, both game-wise and movie-wise.

Man, I just wish there were more independent game stores around. I was sad when Game Express went out of business in Carle Place but I never expected the main store to go under as well.

I remember Manhattan Mall when it was called A&S Plaza. There were two EB's there- one on the lower level next to KB Toys, and one a bunch of floors up. That mall used to always be packed, now when I go there it's all boring. And they close at like, 7pm. WTF?!

Sorry to sidetrack the original topic. I'm not in NYC in a regular basis anymore, so all the stores are either closed or I can't remember their names.

There was one on Broadway, downtown, probably past Union Square. I can't remember the name (helpful, I know).

I just remember buying Dragon Ball Z Super Famicom games there around 1992 or 1993 and people around here were amazed I could buy Japanese games in NYC LOL.

[quote name='Haggar']I remember Manhattan Mall when it was called A&S Plaza. There were two EB's there- one on the lower level next to KB Toys, and one a bunch of floors up. That mall used to always be packed, now when I go there it's all boring. And they close at like, 7pm. WTF?!

Sorry to sidetrack the original topic. I'm not in NYC in a regular basis anymore, so all the stores are either closed or I can't remember their names.

There was one on Broadway, downtown, probably past Union Square. I can't remember the name (helpful, I know).

I just remember buying Dragon Ball Z Super Famicom games there around 1992 or 1993 and people around here were amazed I could buy Japanese games in NYC LOL.[/QUOTE]


Pretty much the only indy game stores left in the City that I know of are the one on St. Marks (the owner is a member here) and Chinatown. There may be some uptown, but I rarely venture up past the park.

Chinatown is also great cos it has one of the last independant arcades that I know of in this area. You can go there play many great 2D fighters and lots of other great old school games. Plus most of the games still cost only a quarter! Some of the kids that hang there are harcore fighting masters too. Ive gotten totally schooled many times by those guys! Its humbling to play at home, and beat up your friends, and think your halfway decent, then show up at that arcade and just get owned like you just started playing with that quarter.... lol

Game express is truely gone and so is the building like salmonaxxx said. Kinda sucks since it was so near penn station. Games and james is also long gone but I only went there once.
Back in the Dreamcast days when I used to pay $15 for burned copies, I went down to some weird little shop in chinatown that was next door to a massage parlor which was kinda creepy.
After that place closed down, there was another store, but whenever I went in they would tell me they didnt have copied games since they thought I was a cop or something.

Just in case no one noticed.

J N L have a website

http://www.jnlgame.com/

There was one on Broadway, downtown, probably past Union Square. I can't remember the name (helpful, I know).

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Hey Haggar, are you talking about the on West Broadway, between Chambers and Warren Street. If you are, then I might remember you. I used to own that store with my friend from 91 to 2001. I wrote about it in some other topic a while back but no one remembered my store. Finally, someone who's actually bought something there. That is, if that is the store you are talking about. By the way, it was called Game Park.

[quote name='b52']Hey Haggar, are you talking about the on West Broadway, between Chambers and Warren Street. If you are, then I might remember you. I used to own that store with my friend from 91 to 2001. I wrote about it in some other topic a while back but no one remembered my store. Finally, someone who's actually bought something there. That is, if that is the store you are talking about. By the way, it was called Game Park.[/QUOTE]

I think that might have been it, the name sounds familar- although I only went there a few times, I guess it's possible you rang me up.

I know I bought 2 or 3 Super Famicom Dragon Ball Z games* (at different times) and I think I bought the Super Famicom version of Final Fight because Guy was in it (before the Blockbuster version came out).

I remember walking into the store, knowing next to nothing other than I needed a converter, and the people there were very helpful to a first time importer.

*And I just want to mention that in the early 1990's it was cool to like Dragon Ball Z LOL.

Did you have a lady working there? I know there was a woman there with another guy one time I went.

[quote name='Puffa469']Pretty much the only indy game stores left in the City that I know of are the one on St. Marks (the owner is a member here) and Chinatown. There may be some uptown, but I rarely venture up past the park.

Chinatown is also great cos it has one of the last independant arcades that I know of in this area. You can go there play many great 2D fighters and lots of other great old school games. Plus most of the games still cost only a quarter! Some of the kids that hang there are harcore fighting masters too. Ive gotten totally schooled many times by those guys! Its humbling to play at home, and beat up your friends, and think your halfway decent, then show up at that arcade and just get owned like you just started playing with that quarter.... lol[/QUOTE]


Ahhh Ctown Arcade. yeah thats where most of the NYC tourney players play. i know Justin Wong played alot of MvC 2 there before he achieved worldwide success. i havent been there for 3 years though....wonder if it changed as in games wise...

[quote name='integralsmatic']Ahhh Ctown Arcade. yeah thats where most of the NYC tourney players play. i know Justin Wong played alot of MvC 2 there before he achieved worldwide success. i havent been there for 3 years though....wonder if it changed as in games wise...[/QUOTE]

There used to be a game in that place where you could shock a real live chicken to death. It was gone by the time of me getting there though (1996).

You could be killing somone on street fighter 3 in that place and then this little 5 year old pulls up his milk crate and perfects you.

Ctown arcade is amazing - it's everything you'd imagine it to be, cheap, dirty, seedy and ridiculously hot. I was sweatin up a storm and I'm not even one of the fat kids.

Multimedia 1.0 is on saint marks - it's nice little place, I think the prices are pretty on par with the rest of the city and they have a real solid selection and good staff.

[quote name='b52']Hey Haggar, are you talking about the on West Broadway, between Chambers and Warren Street. If you are, then I might remember you. I used to own that store with my friend from 91 to 2001. I wrote about it in some other topic a while back but no one remembered my store. Finally, someone who's actually bought something there. That is, if that is the store you are talking about. By the way, it was called Game Park.[/QUOTE]

That game store is about 2-3 blocks away from my old HS, I used to stop by there every once in awhile.

For anyone that ventures up to the boonies(Westchester), there's a new indy store in Mt Kisco that I heard has a great import selection. I'll get back when I check it out later today.


It's a great time to be a cheap ass gamer.

My favorites (in the 90s) when I lived in NY were Video Gamesters (on 7th Ave just north of the villiage). And the Game Trade Center near South Street Seaport.

[quote name='danny-o']There used to be a game in that place where you could shock a real live chicken to death. It was gone by the time of me getting there though (1996).

You could be killing somone on street fighter 3 in that place and then this little 5 year old pulls up his milk crate and perfects you.[/QUOTE]

I remeber that place, that game was ing sick.

fugazi_chichimon, I guess if your HS was near there, you must've attended Stuyvesant. And Haggar, I don't know if we're still talking bout my place, but the only lady that ever worked for us was my friend's wife.

There used to be a game in that place where you could shock a real live chicken to death. It was gone by the time of me getting there though (1996).

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Say WHAAAAAA? Can you explain this further?

I've gone to Manhattan twice the past six months for the first time...I stopped in at Multimedia 1.0 last time. I realize I'm spoiled now by CAG and Ebay, but the prices made me laugh my ass off and run screaming. I'm sure it costs a fortune to keep a store in the East Village, but still...

that school by police plaza is the closest high school to chinatown fair, murray burgtraum? dunno how you spell it.
the shock the chicken game was actually uh i think suposed to be a "dancing" chicken, and there was a tic-tac-toe chicken that lasted a while longer. I used to be one of the quarter guys in there during my senior year of high school.

[quote name='salmonaxxx']Does anyone know if Games & James, Game Express, and 32nd Street Games are still in business anywhere? They always had good markdowns on older games, and 32nd St. Games always had the best prices on new releases.[/QUOTE]
old topic revival...

Games and James didn't exactly close down. at least i don't think they did. they just changed their name and operation to a location across from NYU (next to the McDonalds and T-Mobile store). it's an anime store now, but i won't doubt that they're still pedaling bootlegs.

Game Express has a "location" out in Flushing still (corner of Northern Blvd and Main St.), but it's only by name and not by ownership. every other GE location's been closed, though. the main store relocated and still run their online operation but out of Jersey now.

and it sucks about 32nd. according to my cousin who heard it from Chris, everything was moved up to another location out in, i think, the Bronx. they still have their location out in Flushing, too, but you'd never know it was there because their sign shrunk from a giant GAMEFAN, to a giant PHOTO/GAMEFAN one (something like that). after Scott left, that store went into the dumps fast. i don't even know if it's run by the same people anymore, to tell the truth.

It sucks that Game Express closed down. My mom used to work in Manhattan and I when I would ask her for a game or something (when I was like 10) we would always go there. I got my Dreamcast there too. Now that I go to Manhattan often (I live in Newark, NJ) I would have like to have that GE there because they always had everything a few dollars cheaper, and they had good prices on used games.

Theres one called Games and James yes and the other is Multimedia 1.0 (at st marks pl)

and if you want to ride you can goto Mitsua mall NJ 10 min from 42nd st, see if they got anything left.

[quote name='ZR0 Limit']old topic revival...

Games and James didn't exactly close down. at least i don't think they did. they just changed their name and operation to a location across from NYU (next to the McDonalds and T-Mobile store). it's an anime store now, but i won't doubt that they're still pedaling bootlegs.

Game Express has a "location" out in Flushing still (corner of Northern Blvd and Main St.), but it's only by name and not by ownership. every other GE location's been closed, though. the main store relocated and still run their online operation but out of Jersey now.

and it sucks about 32nd. according to my cousin who heard it from Chris, everything was moved up to another location out in, i think, the Bronx. they still have their location out in Flushing, too, but you'd never know it was there because their sign shrunk from a giant GAMEFAN, to a giant PHOTO/GAMEFAN one (something like that). after Scott left, that store went into the dumps fast. i don't even know if it's run by the same people anymore, to tell the truth.[/QUOTE]
Regarding 32nd games, Im a friend of Chris and all the workers at 32nd games. The store closed due to competition. They werent making as much money as they use to. All games were moved to their Bronx store known as Game Plaza.

As for the Gamefan, its right around the corner from the GameExpress in Main Street. As you mentioned, the GE is not owned by them but the store paid to use the name. So its independently owned. The GameFan is shared with cellphone/photo store and is right next to a flower shop and cellphone stores. Its across the street from Pecks.

Damn I remember Scott. I see him once in awhile. His two younger brothers, Jeff and Colin work at Game Plaza. Chris might work at GP once in awhile. I havent talked to him since 32nd games closed.

oh snap, I didnt even notice that was my own cousin that I just replied to

[quote name='iazybandit']The GameFan is shared with cellphone/photo store and is right next to a flower shop and cellphone stores. Its across the street from Pecks.[/QUOTE]

Sounds similar to what Game Express was doing in its flagship store in the last year of its life or so. I was pretty shocked to see that they removed almost all of the cases and the arcade games on the side of the store so they could set up a section for cell phones. Guess it didn't go over very well since I saw it there twice and then that section disappeared. It always surprised me though that GE never kept a hold on their arcade games since A) they tended to be very recent fighters and B) most of the time they had a line or around eight or nine people at least waiting to toss in their 50 cents to play some sickeningly good people. You would think that with a customer pull like that they could have started tossing up tournaments and just enjoy the pull of teens and college-types tossing in ten bucks for about an hour apiece on the machine.

Oh well. What made me really upset about the loss of most of the independent game stores in the city was that they tended to have the things that EB and GameStop could never get in. Combine that with imports, anime, model kits, a wide variety of niche titles that were on display on various TVs and whatnot...it was just a joy to go into these stores. And if they weren't crowded you can pretty much have a personal shopping trip handled by a gamer like you. Oh, to relive those days...

"Hey, Angel, what's playing on the main screen?"
"Oh, that's Bangai-o for the Dreamcast. I recorded my progress last night."
"Wow, does it handle as great as it look? Fully 2-D?"
"Imagine a bit of Robotron with fast-paced 2D action!"
"Alright, how much?"

Quick, fast, simple. Beautiful. Oh well, it's a shame GE is gone along with most of the other game stores.

theres some little game store around where i live. you can haggle as long as the asain lady aint there

between 144 and 145 an broadway

[quote name='Kapwanil']Sounds similar to what Game Express was doing in its flagship store in the last year of its life or so. I was pretty shocked to see that they removed almost all of the cases and the arcade games on the side of the store so they could set up a section for cell phones. Guess it didn't go over very well since I saw it there twice and then that section disappeared. It always surprised me though that GE never kept a hold on their arcade games since A) they tended to be very recent fighters and B) most of the time they had a line or around eight or nine people at least waiting to toss in their 50 cents to play some sickeningly good people. You would think that with a customer pull like that they could have started tossing up tournaments and just enjoy the pull of teens and college-types tossing in ten bucks for about an hour apiece on the machine.

Oh well. What made me really upset about the loss of most of the independent game stores in the city was that they tended to have the things that EB and GameStop could never get in. Combine that with imports, anime, model kits, a wide variety of niche titles that were on display on various TVs and whatnot...it was just a joy to go into these stores. And if they weren't crowded you can pretty much have a personal shopping trip handled by a gamer like you. Oh, to relive those days...

"Hey, Angel, what's playing on the main screen?"
"Oh, that's Bangai-o for the Dreamcast. I recorded my progress last night."
"Wow, does it handle as great as it look? Fully 2-D?"
"Imagine a bit of Robotron with fast-paced 2D action!"
"Alright, how much?"

Quick, fast, simple. Beautiful. Oh well, it's a shame GE is gone along with most of the other game stores.[/QUOTE]
GE had overpriced game. They were only good for anime and imports. When Angel was there, it was interesting. Once he left, I think the place went downhill. For domestic games, I always went to 32nd games. I worked at the EB in Manhattan Mall and even then I still went to 32nd. Since I knew them very well, I get charged what was stickered. No tax for me. I would chill at 32nd hours on end just talking, chilling, watching movies, playing games or just helping behind the counter. Damn I miss that place ='(

[quote name='iazybandit']GE had overpriced game. They were only good for anime and imports. When Angel was there, it was interesting. Once he left, I think the place went downhill. For domestic games, I always went to 32nd games. I worked at the EB in Manhattan Mall and even then I still went to 32nd. Since I knew them very well, I get charged what was stickered. No tax for me. I would chill at 32nd hours on end just talking, chilling, watching movies, playing games or just helping behind the counter. Damn I miss that place ='([/QUOTE]

Very true. The only time they were remotely worth it is when they had a rare title in, and even then you'd be paying more than you would elsewhere. Then again, this was before most of the days where EB and such would have those sort of games in stock still or in a used condition.

But yeah, once Angel left the rest of the knowledgeable staff soon followed and then the place really seemed to crack down on the gamers in the store. Back in the day they would always ask if you needed help, if you were looking for something, but near the end the workers were more interested in who they were going to bang later on in the evening. Very classy. It also didn't help that most of them had no idea what they actually carried. That's always a joy and a half!

Oh well, it's a shame that they went, but the market was competetive and all, I guess. Anime could be had for cheaper online (and in wider variety elsewhere), imports weren't going to sell with that sort of markup (although the art book prices were still magnificent, considering which ones they had), and games...well, you go elsewhere. Their models were still reasonable though but, geez, with a $1 or $2 markup on those you're not really going to get too far.

[quote name='iazybandit']GE had overpriced game. They were only good for anime and imports. When Angel was there, it was interesting. Once he left, I think the place went downhill. For domestic games, I always went to 32nd games. I worked at the EB in Manhattan Mall and even then I still went to 32nd. Since I knew them very well, I get charged what was stickered. No tax for me. I would chill at 32nd hours on end just talking, chilling, watching movies, playing games or just helping behind the counter. Damn I miss that place ='([/QUOTE]

You said it, bandit. What made it worse was that 32nd Games disappeared just as the PSP came around, and I never got a chance to take advantage of their lower prices... Another neat thing about 32nd was that they sometimes sold stuff before the launch date; I got a few DVDs way early, although I paid a few bucks more.

[quote name='salmonaxxx']You said it, bandit. What made it worse was that 32nd Games disappeared just as the PSP came around, and I never got a chance to take advantage of their lower prices... Another neat thing about 32nd was that they sometimes sold stuff before the launch date; I got a few DVDs way early, although I paid a few bucks more.[/QUOTE]
Yea, they got DVDs before release which was cool. 32nd tried getting into imports (GC launch) but it didnt pan out. They got stuck with Wave Race and Luigi Mansion. Chris couldnt even get rid of them at other stores and held me sell it on eBay for him. So the import idea didnt work at all. Well, at least they still have two stores its good enough for me. Only problem, GameFan, I dont know anyone except for Scott and whoever worked there back in the days..so I hardly go there. Game Plaza (Bronx), too far of a travel for me to get there.