Video and board game fanatics interested in taking a walk down memory lane do not have to search far to find a favorite childhood game. Phoenix Nest Games on 540 W. Union St. is home to a plethora of retro options.
The term retro is defined as anything “relating to, reviving or being the styles and especially the fashions of the past.” Several use the word to compare styles, music, games and cars from older generations, bridging a connection between the new and old.
Phoenix Nest opened in 2015 after owner and operator James Harrod decided to follow his dreams and pursue his passion for games. Harrod said his time as manager of the gaming section at The Athens Book Center on 74 E. State St. fueled an interest in retro games.
“I always had interest in this kind of stuff and it was kind of a passion project for me, really a labor of love,” Harrod said. “I opened it up because I wanted to do something for myself, have my own business and this was something I loved doing.”
The book center closed in 2015, leaving locals, Ohio University students and families in need of a recreational space for fun activities. Luckily for the neighborhood, Harrod not only opened a new space for shoppers, but created an inclusive atmosphere for all age ranges.
“I see people in here from teenagers and kids up to people in their 50s and 60s,” Harrod said.
Phoenix Nest follows a buy, sell and trade system, encouraging individuals to repurpose games and preserve history. From Dungeons and Dragons figures to Pokemon cards to Super Mario Bros. games, each shopper is bound to rediscover a childhood favorite.
Violet Hill, office manager at Allstate Insurance, is a friend of Harrod’s and frequent helper at Phoenix Nest. Hill said she started playing Magic: The Gathering at the store shortly after high school and soon became a permanent customer.
“I started hanging out there a lot and would meet a lot of new friends there (and) just helping to build a community,” Hill said.
Hill has been a regular for seven years and said reselling and repurposing games allows college students and children to discover previous generations and expand their knowledge.
“It is a line of business that is not super present here in town,” Hill said. “Aside from that (and) the business metric standpoint of it, what I really enjoy about it is it can help to bring a lot of interest in older series that do not get much love and care anymore.”
In celebration of National Retro Day on Thursday, shoppers were offered a chance to travel back in time and relive their favorite fashion trends, watch a variety of classic movies and play a favorite game.
National Day Calendar states Retro Day was founded by Hermelinda Aguilar, Robert Duran and Tina Duran, with the intention to explore life “before smartphones, social media and the Internet as a whole became a necessity” in people’s daily routines.
To commemorate the holiday, Phoenix Nest offered a storewide discount on games that typically range between $5 and several hundred, depending on the quality and age of the product.
“There are more expensive things out there, but usually I do not deal in a lot of stuff that is over the $500, $600 price tag,” Harrod said.
Supporting local businesses cultivates a positive atmosphere and connections between owners and residents. Kylie Smith, a senior studying psychology, shares an appreciation for board games and encourages others to play.
“Board games bring people together as they offer a way for people to connect in person and spend quality time together without the use of the internet,” Smith wrote in an email. “It also helps people with communication and collaboration skills as they play.”
