After writing articles on the Louisiana Comic Con and Shreveport Arcade, I’ve accepted my fate as the resident writer for all things in the nerd or geek realm. I guess playing Dungeons & Dragons, computer and console games, and having an ever-growing collection of board games isn’t disproving my nerdiness. However, if you attempted to attend Louisiana Comic Con or have been paying any attention to the cultural shift since the millenium, you would know that “nerd culture” is no longer a niche community, especially in Shreveport-Bossier.
Geek4Life Game Store is opening its doors today, April 17, and looks to capitalize on the growth of both the nerdy crowd and those looking for an all-ages venue. Housed in what used to be House of Wheels Skating Palace, their 26,000 square foot facility at 1902 Alfred Lane in Bossier City is more than enough space for their grandiose plans. I visited Geek4Life while they were still laying down carpet, stacking shelves, and readying the space for a full opening in just three days.
“this place is built for gamers; you guys are the boss.”
Rob Newhart is one of the partners who is behind the operation, and certainly has a high Charisma ability score. His mentality is, “this place is built for gamers; you guys are the boss.” That is certainly reflected in the way that Geek4Life operates as a business. Rob found success owning a similar store, Game Theory in Raleigh, North Carolina, and looks to replicate the same atmosphere back in his hometown of Bossier City. “We want to create a welcoming community where anyone who comes in is welcome, and can join a game or learn a new one,” said Newhart.
Aside from the concession stand and the retail sales from games and accessories, visitors to Geek4Life are treated to a free experience. That’s right, it seems too good to be true, but everything from renting a board game off a shelf, hooking up to their internet (the fastest in Shreveport-Bossier), playing a console game, learning a tabletop game, or playing a D&D campaign all night – FREE.
Already in motion is a full event calendar, with weekly game nights focused on specific games such as Heroclix, Warmachine, Hordes, and Magic: The Gathering – which is every Friday night. TwitchTV will be broadcasted, local competitions for League of Legends and other popular games will be held, and console games will be projected in 4k resolution.
“I’m looking forward to going to a space that broadcasts eSports, surrounded by people who are also fans,” says Robert Specian, owner of Nerdy By Design.
With the space that they have to work with and the energetic staff, I see no reason this vision won’t come to fruition. Oh yeah, and their chairs are really comfortable which is a high priority.
Geek4Life Game Store
1898 Airline Dr
Bossier City, LA 71112
Geek4Life Facebook
Geek4Life MeetUp Page