Spell Bound: Game Spot
By Michelle Troutman 

Spell Bound is the place to go for board games, fantasy role playing games, collectible card games, and the space to hang out to play them.

"I didn't know how to play anything -- not a game in here -- until I opened the store four years ago," owner Donna Goggin says.

She came up with the name, inspired by the spells in collectible card games, and her son Joel, who has been playing Magic: The Gathering for more than a decade. She spent a year doing research to ensure she was making the right decision.

"There really wasn't a place to play around here," says Joel. "With the proximity of three colleges, we figured it would be a good gathering area, plus it gave a good opportunity to play without having to drive all over the place."

Donna retired from the Air Force in 1993 after 20 years, having been stationed in California for 14 years as an aircraft mechanic. She returned to her home state in 1994 and worked odd jobs before running Spell Bound. Joel's prior work experience was in computer repair and technical support.

"Unfortunately, a lot of the games have intricate rules," says Joel. He works on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and handles questions about Magic: The Gathering . Donna knows Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! , and works on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Their most popular games are Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! According to Joel, at local schools, "They're only collecting , they're not playing" Pokemon .

"A lot of these games use your brain and you have to know how to read. Some people just play by just looking at the pictures -- a lot of people because they've just memorized it," says Donna.

They host regular game tournaments, and charge $3.00 for participation; Pokemon tournaments are $2.00.

Dungeons & Dragons still draws players, and they have their own room, "the dungeon." Spell Bound accepts donations to cover the cost of the room clean-up and electricity.

The main game room is set-up with conference tables; around the cash register are displays of board games, card sets, and game dies. More table space is in the adjoining room, with large windows that let the sun shine in, where people can play games and learn to play them. "See, I've already told everybody if they come in to play cards against me , if I beat them, then they need to sit down and think about what they're doing, because they don't have a good deck," chuckles Donna.

The store has its own charm. Paintings of various characters from Pokemon, Spoils, and Yu-Gi-Oh! decorate the walls of the main game room and the bathroom, so colorful they practically leap off the walls. This artwork was done by Joel's girlfriend and a friend of hers. Donna's dogs Mitzi and Pasha roam the store on Sunday mornings, walking up to visitors for a friendly pat on the head.

Joel manages the store, and also builds starter game decks made up of random cards. "We try to organize them because a lot of our business is people buying individual cards," he says.

Wal-Mart has a monopoly on board games, "which is why we tend to focus on the games they don't have," says Joel.

Most of their prices are under the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). "Everybody says, 'God, I wish I had known that before I came into Wal-Mart,'" adds Donna.

The Goggins strive to provide a family-friendly, safe gaming environment. They have rules of conduct posted in their store and at their Web site. Adults are given a time limit if they use inappropriate words; more adults come in after five o' clock.

"For the most part, these kids know that they either listen to what we say or they don't get to come in any more and that is worse than having detention," Donna says with a laugh.

Organizations such as Goodwill-Hinckley and Spurwink brought whole classes down there regularly over the summer "because of the atmosphere and they know that we run a really tight ship," says Joel.

The Goggins attribute their success to their personalities. As Joel puts it, "Without sounding really cocky, we are very personable people, and that kind of energy brings them in."

"Plus, we're honest and straightforward. We don't try to hide anything on people. We don't try to cover up anything. What you see is what you get," Donna says.

This "magic" gathering place provides ample room for gamers of all ages to talk, to play, to meet like-minded people, and to have a good time, an alternative to the bar and restaurant scene.

Spell Bound at 67 East Concourse opens from 11:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Thursday, and from 11:00am to midnight on Fridays. Saturday hours are 10:00am to 9:00pm and Sundays they run from noon to 6:00pm. (Closing times aren't closely followed if an event is going on.): 872-8200. www.spellbnd.com

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