Inclusive gaming store in Albany faces closure, seeks support to re-open in Leesburg

ALBANY – The Nerd Store gave Albany residents a safe haven. Now, they’re rallying to save it.

Daniel Vanoteghem, a Leesburg native, opened the store in August 2024 to create a space where “nerds” could gather and game. In its first year, he built an inclusive and dedicated community, but high overhead costs and unresolved repairs are forcing Vanoteghem to shut down the Albany location and search for a new space in Leesburg.

“This has become more of a community that just happens to have a shop attached to it,” he said. “We welcome everyone.” 

Through the doors of the Nerd Store, located at 2610 Dawson Road, Suite 14, in Albany, is a space brimming with fantasy, imagination and love. The store had a robust weekly event schedule where people, ages 7 to 70, met to play group games like Warhammer, Chess or design elaborate game boards and figures.

How the nerd store built an inclusive space

For 12-year-old Grayson Lamb, the Nerd Store was a space he could come to after homeschooling to make friends and learn more about his favorite game, Pokemon. He visits nearly every day with his parents and siblings. He entered his first Pokemon tournament at the Nerd Store — competing as the only youth — and placed fourth.

“It was thanks to all the amazing people here that have taught me such great things about the game,” Grayson said. 

One of those people is 39-year-old Simon Tippett who started coming to the Nerd Store when it first opened and has returned every weekend since. Tippett plays Magic the Gathering at the store, a fantasy and strategy game he’s played since high school. 

“The game of Magic, at its purest form, is a game to be enjoyed with people in person,” Tippett said. “I’d only get to have those in-person interactions maybe once or twice a month. So going from that to playing every week, sometimes multiple times a week at the Nerd Store, was great.”

Tippett said the Nerd Store helped him form friendships that got him through challenging times. 

“I recently went through a divorce and having the community support here helped me during some of the tough times,” he said. “It’s a breath of fresh air and a real anchor in my life.” 

Tippett said the Nerd Store established an inclusive space early on. Beyond just a gaming community, Vanoteghem said the Nerd Store became a safe space for marginalized communities and others who “fall through the cracks” in Albany. 

“I know we have a lot of people who are part of the LGBTQ community … people with disabilities … and people on the spectrum,” Tippett said. “That’s definitely something that’s not in the norm in Albany. So with it closing, I know a lot of people are taking it very hard. They see this place as a home that’s being taken away from them.”

Kim Chapman had just moved to Albany with his husband and son when the Nerd Store Opened. He quickly began working as a crew leader. Chapman is transgender and uses he/they pronouns. He said the Nerd Store has provided a much-needed safe haven in Albany where he feels free to be himself. 

Chapman said he feels like he has to hide his identity while living in Albany. He dresses differently in stores, removing his binder and avoiding “tomboy” clothes. As he fills out job applications, he said he feels safer using she/her pronouns.

“Nowhere in Albany feels safe,” Chapman said. “But people walk into this store … they’re telling me ‘I can breathe here. I feel like I can sit, and I don’t have to look over my shoulder.’ The mask that we all put on in public, we can take it off.”

Flags representing the LGBTQ communities hang in the front windows. Chapman said they initially worried the flags might provoke backlash.

“In the year we’ve been open, there have been only two people who showed their butt, which is surprising,” he said.

Beyond the welcoming environment, Chapman said the Nerd Store is a place where adults can cater to their inner child. 

“Especially millennials; our whole upbringing has been disaster after disaster,” he said. “Just let me play my games for five seconds. Let me be a kid. We’re all just big kids. If playing games brings you joy, you should be allowed to do that and to have a place that doesn’t make you feel nickel-or-dimed to do that.”  

The Nerd Store is also a space for families. Youths visit with their parents, either to play games themselves or hang out with friends while their parents play. Kay Lamb, Grayson’s mom, said Albany has limited family friendly spaces. 

How the community can support the Nerd Store

Vanoteghem said he’s proud of the community built by the store.

“If supporting my fellow human beings makes me a radical, I’ll take it,” he said. “Everybody is welcome here because everybody matters, and everybody needs a place.” 

The Nerd Store is hosting a final send-off at its first location, Saturday. Vanoteghem said it’s a “relocation celebration” – an all-day event with a final big game tournament and cookout. The store plans to discount and sell some of its inventory.

“We’re trying to get some folks in from all over this part of the country – southwest Georgia, north Florida, east Alabama,” he said. “Just spread the word. Get the community out here to help support.” 

Vanoteghem is committed to finding a new home for The Nerd Store. His plan is to buy a downtown property in Leesburg for the store’s new home. 

“This is about the community,” he said. “If it was just about the store, I might not be re-opening. But I have to do this for the community. This is how I’m going to do some good in the world.” 

He said he plans to develop a youth and teen advocacy program at the new store to utilize gaming and community to give area youths a place to go if they have nowhere else. 

“The kids are our future,” Vanoteghem said. “If we can help some people, if we can bring people together to find their communities and to find new passions and new hobbies, it’s beautiful to watch. I’ve seen so many people who have come into this place shy and not knowing anybody, and by the time they leave, they’re smiling and laughing with good friends.”

Vanoteghem launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $8,000 to help secure a new property.

“This is not goodbye,” he said. “This is we’ll see you soon in Leesburg.”