<p>We're chatting with <a href="https://vansccg.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><em>Van's Comics and Games</em></a> store owner, Travis.</p>
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<p>The store is located in Ridgeland, Mississippi, and was originally owned by Van, hence the name. Van is a family friend of Travis and owned the store for 20 years before passing the torch. At the time, the focus was on comics. There are currently 80-100,000 unique back issues. When the reigns were passed, Travis kept the store name to recognize the legacy Van had built. With 8+ years under his belt, Travis's store is 28 years old and counting.</p>
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<p>Originally from Toronto, Canada, Travis has a passion for <em>Warhammer 40,000 </em>and also enjoys <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>. With 1,500-2,000 sq. ft. of play space, the former supports 10 6x4 full-size wooden tables for players. Overall, the store is 6,000 sq. ft. The store supports 100 people for card games and can expand the space to 300-400 people for major tournaments.</p>
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<p>In addition to gaming, Travis and his wife's family own all the Papa John's restaurants in the area, so there's always free pizza for events. Moreover, the store has a full bar so customers can grab a drink between games. Should players have their fill at the game store, Travis also owns a restaurant called <em>Black Axes,</em> where customers can go to grab food and a drink or partake in axe throwing.</p>
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<p>With 6 employees, excluding the owners, Travis and the team always think of unique ideas for the store. For example, this year (2024), they're holding a carnival in the store's parking lot. </p>
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<p>While he never looks to throw the same party twice, Travis is always marinating new plans. For example, he's looking to expand the store to 12,000 sq. ft. </p>