Friendly Local Game Store: Imperial Outpost Games

This profile on Imperial Outpost Games is part of an ongoing series about Friendly Local Game Stores I’ve visited.

Imperial Outpost Games is one of several friendly local game stores in the Phoenix area. It’s located in Glendale, Arizona, and has been open since 1998. 

It’s quite a distance from where I live, so it’s a real treat when I’m in the neighborhood and I get to visit the store. One time, my buddy and I made a late-night drive to hit up the store right before closing time because we were searching for game. I often never leave the store without purchasing something. The vibe is chill and very friendly.

Owner Darren Johnson believes in carrying a wide range of items, something for everyone. When asked why he opened a board-game store, he said he previously was managing another board-game store at the time and wasn’t happy with the direction it was going. He said he knew he could do better on his own and eventually opened up his own store.

Imperial Outpost Games has a large collection of all kinds of board games, RPGs and miniatures. There’s even a punch-card that gives you 20 percent off your entire purchase when you spend $200. It also has a very busy event calendar, which includes weekly open gaming, X-Wing casual play, D&D Adventure League, Warhammer 40k Open Play and a Painting Meetup. Its Warhammer Tournaments draw in large crowds, with people traveling in all the way from California and Texas.

Imperial Outpost Games was originally about 2,220 square feet, but has undergone two expansions since moving to its current location in 2002. When the business next door closed down, Imperial Outpost Games moved into the space and added another 2,200 square feet. A few years after that, it started occupying a third space, adding another 1,400 square feet. Overall, Imperial Outpost Games takes up three storefronts.

The store takes up the main first area, and the next two rooms are for gaming and painting. The second space has many large tables, which the miniatures players appreciate because they can put down terrain and get a really immersive experience during their gameplay. Imperial Outpost Games also has terrain for players to use, as well as a game library for people to try out games — and hopefully, Johnson said, swing on over and purchase a copy.

In the third space, there are brushes and equipment for people who want to sit down and paint their miniatures. There’s also a section that can be rented out for gaming, which includes a privacy screen and access to one of those fancy gaming tables we all drool over. The store also sells snacks and drinks, but gamers can also bring in their own food if they’d like.

However, one thing Imperial Outpost Games doesn’t sell is card games, but the store refers those gamers to Manawerx, which is literally down the street a few miles away. Manawerx, which only sells card games, then sends board gamers to Imperial Outpost Games.

Since running a store takes up a lot of time, Johnson doesn’t play as many games as he’d like. Some of his favorites are still Warhammer, RPGs and board games such as Tales of the Arabian Nights, Rex, Clank, Resistance and Tikal.

So, what’s the best part of running a board-game store?

“Seeing other people have fun,” Johnson said. “And knowing that I’m helping them have fun.”

Information and photos

Imperial Outpost Games is at 4920 W. Thunderbird Road in Glendale, Arizona. It’s open 7 days a week. Find them on Facebook.