What started as a high school Warhammer 40,000 club run has now, more than two decades later, become a gathering place for people who play tabletop games, including board games and trading card and roleplaying games.
Located at 2092 Whittaker Rd in Ypsilanti, Golden Rhino Games is a game and hobby store founded and run by Ian Pietila and named after a tournament Pietila previously ran. (That tournament was named on the fly when Pietila looked at the table in front of him and saw gold paint and a rhino from Warhammer).
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Since opening in 2020, Golden Rhino Games has become more than a game store. It’s a community gathering place—a place for people who play tabletop games of all kinds… one that now even serves food from its own café, so you don’t need to think about sustenance during a long game. Besides this perk, staff members are also well trained and focused on serving all kinds of customers, from the newbie to the seasoned.
“I go out of the way to make sure everyone is trained to communicate with people,” said Pietila. “I’ve working in retail almost my entire life and have a passion for making the space enjoyable, not overwhelming. I have customers who come in whose names we know when they walk in the door because we’ve helped with projects in the past.”
That project might be getting into model building for a new game or finding a game-related gift for someone on your list. Whatever the case, Pietila and team are happy to help. “I realized that when a customer comes in, and I find out their needs, they will probably come back, so our goal is customer service and satisfaction,” he said.
Interested in getting involved? The best way to know about organized play nights and other events at the store is to follow Golden Rhino Games on Facebook or Discord.
“Support your friendly local game store,” said Pietila. “We’re not a convenience store. We are a third place. See if we have what you’re looking for. We’re in-person focused, beginner focused and hobby focused. There are few stores in North America where you can go play a game, get advice and then order food and take it to your table to play.”
