| The Philly Game Shop |
| 521 South 5th Street Philadelphia, PA 19147 (215) 305-9230 |
In 2019, Taylor Jenkins recognized a surprising gap in that Philadelphia, a city of more than a million people, had just one dedicated game store. She left her career as a politics professor with a dream to create a welcoming, inclusive space where no one feels gatekept and everyone belongs. That vision became The Philly Game Shop, now recognized as a Featured Official Tournament Store (OTS) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Opening a new business is never easy, and The Philly Game Shop launched just before the COVID-19 pandemic forced widespread closures, but thanks to strong support from the local community, the shop endured. It began as a small space with a couple of tables and room for 16 Duelists to gather and play. As interest increased, the store expanded into a larger, previously vacant grocery space next door. After extensive renovations, the new location opened in 2023, accommodating up to 64 Duelists! The expansion was a true community effort, local Duelists even volunteered to move tables and games into the new upgraded location.
A major driver of the shop’s growth has been the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME (TCG). What started with a few regular Duelists steadily expanded. Although the staff initially had little experience with the game, they asked questions and learned what Duelists wanted. Early events in The Philly Game Shop’s new space quickly exceeded the former 16-Duelist capacity, drawing 30 or more competitors through their doors! Weekly events expanded from Monday night Advanced tournaments to include Thursday night 100-point Genesys tournaments, further strengthening Duelist engagement.
Achieving OTS status in October of 2022 marked another turning point. Duelists began discovering the shop through the KONAMI OTS locator, and perks like OTS Tournament Packs and Premiere! Events attracted many Duelists. The store has also earned OTS Rewards, such as 4 Duelist Game Mats and standees. They reported just over a hundred tournaments last year, qualifying them to receive all OTS Rewards levels up to Level 100, the set of 2 OTS-branded backpacks.
Taylor shares these rewards with the community that helped the OTS earn them, for example, placing the earned 4 Duelist Game Mats on top tables for Duelists to use, reinforcing that the achievements belong to everyone who has helped The Philly Game Shop succeed.
“We make sure it’s a safe place, so all people feel comfortable coming in and playing games.”
– Shane Baker, store manager
Community engagement extends far beyond weekly tournaments. Taylor attends two conventions each year, helping to expand the store’s presence and connect with a broader audience. In addition, the store’s active Discord server provides a space for Duelists to communicate, coordinate, and stay engaged with the store’s community between events. The Philly Game Shop also hosts several fundraisers for local organizations. One standout event is the annual Yu-Gi-Oh! Holiday Charity Event. Shane Baker – the manager of the store who is responsible for organizing its events – says the charity events are particularly popular, and the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Holiday Charity Event is a huge hit each year. “The players are excited for it each year because they know that their local participation is helping the community,” he explained.
The Philly Game Shop maintains a diverse Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME community because it welcomes all Duelists into the store. While the store mostly attracts college-aged Duelists due to its location, Duelists who are younger or older like to participate as well. “We make sure it’s a safe place, so all people feel comfortable coming in and playing games,” Shane explained. The staff prioritize creating a safe, respectful environment where everyone feels comfortable.
Opening up a game shop comes with challenges, but Taylor is embracing the experience. When asked what advice she would give to a new store that is becoming an OTS, her advice was clear: “Think about your community first. It’s nice to make money in your store, but no one will buy cards from a store that doesn’t care about its community. The most important thing is to welcome people. We don’t let bullying happen at our game store, so people know that they can feel free to express themselves.”
Through this commitment to inclusivity, The Philly Game Shop has built a strong reputation. It used that reputation to gradually build up its Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG community so that a diverse group of Duelists can enjoy the game they love. Its journey from a small local store to a Featured OTS demonstrates the power of putting people first and shows how a shared passion for gaming can bring a community together.
