scarymonkey
First Post
What happened to Merlin's Books? Why did it close? I was just in Tampa over the weekend and I was shocked to find it gone. Where do I go game shopping in Tampa now?
Question for gamers in Tampa, FL
- Thread starter scarymonkey
- Start date
Pylar
First Post
A local gaming storesw ruin
Ok, ya see that Yoga shop at the corner of the same shopping plaza. The owner of Merlins also owns that shop. She took over Merlins from her ex-husband after a divorce. Then proceded to funnel money from a successful business (Merlins Books) and dumped it into her Yoga shop. In the process she developed considerable debt to the vendors that supplied her gaming material. (That's why Merlins hadn't had anything new in the previous 4 months) She couldn't get new product (Yet her Yoga shop was always stocked) and Merlins stopped making money. For the past several months I've been giving my business to Comics Club in Brandon. I think they are at the corner of Lumsten and Kings. (Take 60 about 4 miles east of Brandon mall, turn South on Kings. They are a couple miles down Kings.) The are a little smaller than Merlins but always have the new gaming stuff, and can order pretty much anything. The store even has a walled off gaming room for in store gaming. There is also Arena Games, on Erlich RD about 4 miles west of Dale Mabry. Arena is geared to the CCG fans, and have a huge selection of Mage Knight, Mechwarrior, and Hero Clix. They have regular weekly tournements for all the popular CCG stuff. In Land o' Lakes corner of US 41 and SR 54 is a card shop. They just got into the CCG side and have an impressive amount Mage Knight, Mech Warrior, Hero Clix..and a whole bunch of Star Wars collectibles!!!
Ok, ya see that Yoga shop at the corner of the same shopping plaza. The owner of Merlins also owns that shop. She took over Merlins from her ex-husband after a divorce. Then proceded to funnel money from a successful business (Merlins Books) and dumped it into her Yoga shop. In the process she developed considerable debt to the vendors that supplied her gaming material. (That's why Merlins hadn't had anything new in the previous 4 months) She couldn't get new product (Yet her Yoga shop was always stocked) and Merlins stopped making money. For the past several months I've been giving my business to Comics Club in Brandon. I think they are at the corner of Lumsten and Kings. (Take 60 about 4 miles east of Brandon mall, turn South on Kings. They are a couple miles down Kings.) The are a little smaller than Merlins but always have the new gaming stuff, and can order pretty much anything. The store even has a walled off gaming room for in store gaming. There is also Arena Games, on Erlich RD about 4 miles west of Dale Mabry. Arena is geared to the CCG fans, and have a huge selection of Mage Knight, Mechwarrior, and Hero Clix. They have regular weekly tournements for all the popular CCG stuff. In Land o' Lakes corner of US 41 and SR 54 is a card shop. They just got into the CCG side and have an impressive amount Mage Knight, Mech Warrior, Hero Clix..and a whole bunch of Star Wars collectibles!!!
scarymonkey
First Post
Thanks for the great answer! 
What a shame that Merlins had to close. I liked the fact that they used to have a lot of rare, used stuff. Oh well, I will have to try to find the Comics Club the next time I am over there. It used to be in Tamarac and I know the owner. He is a very nice guy and really runs a professional store.
What a shame that Merlins had to close. I liked the fact that they used to have a lot of rare, used stuff. Oh well, I will have to try to find the Comics Club the next time I am over there. It used to be in Tamarac and I know the owner. He is a very nice guy and really runs a professional store.
Kralin Thornberry
Explorer
Man, this sucks! I just moved back to Florida, and was going to make a day trip up to visit old friends, fraternity brothers, visit USF AND make a stop at Merlin's...many a good memory from that place when I was in college...my buddies used to drive up and drop tons of cash there.
wayne62682
First Post
I've heard of one or two good places in the area, but I haven't checked it out yet since Tampa is about a 40 minutes or so drive for me. The closest game shop to where I live is in Tarpon Springs, but I keep telling myself I'm going to go to Tampa and check out what they have... some day ;-)
MrFilthyIke
First Post
I only went to Merlin's once and walked out BROKE!
When I heard it was gone, I was pissed.
Had never gotten to go back and shop more.
When I heard it was gone, I was pissed.
Had never gotten to go back and shop more.
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