Curio Cavern

I have been going to Curio Cavern since April of 2012. I am a female who participates in nerd games.
First off, Curio Cavern is an ACTIVE gaming store. Sometimes, especially during Friday Night Magic, there can be up to 40 people plus in the store all trying to sign up for events or buy product or both. So if you can’t understand why you didn’t get your hand held and walked around the store with a personalized greeting, then maybe you should check your presumptions at the door and actually open your eyes to what’s going on. The reviewers here calling this place «blatantly sexist» are laughable.
Ok, now I got that out of my system. On to the actual review of the store.
Curio Cavern has moved to a new location in the same complex but behind the original location. It is MUCH cleaner now. Bright, cheerful, with Oak style bookshelves lining the wall and a nice pergo style floor. Space is still an issue (the place seats about 46 at max capacity), but anyone who plays at public tournaments should know that space is usually an issue. Even at very large events in convention centers, space is still an issue. The new location also has a larger bathroom that is handicap accessible and able to accommodate a wheelchair-​bound individual.
Product selection is still primarily board games and Magic: the Gathering, however the store is expanding into miniatures. There are two larger tables in the front to support miniature gaming, a new addition with the move.
Paper RPGs are carried in a limited capacity but there are no regular RPG nights.
The only issue I have with Curio Cavern is their Magic singles stock. They tend to be often out of popular singles with is a combination of popularity (obviously) and amount of stock the shop wants to keep on hand at any given point (not much).
Price-​wise, singles are priced around Star City Games, which is typical in this area. Board games and other products are priced at what they should be for a brick-​and-​mortar store. In reply to the self-​entitled female who reviewed earlier, No sh*t things are cheaper on Amazon. Because they are strictly online, they have zero overhead when compared to the sheer amount of product they move. If you knew anything about basic business, they make money by having a ridiculously low profit margin, thus lower prices, and selling HUGE amounts of items. If you want cheap, give the finger to your local economy and small business and go shop at Wal-​Mart and Amazon. Then cry when you don’t have a local store to go play at because they simply can’t compete with those massive retailers and end up going out of business.
Bottom line: Curio Cavern is a great, local business that actually supports the games they play. They will teach you a new game, give deck tech advice, or sit down and play with you. Not just sell you something and send you on your way. Support your local business.

For all of you ladies (and gents) out there, I would like to set the record straight… I am a *FEMALE* reviewer, and have been a frequent patron of Curio Cavern since October 2013.
Service/​Friendliness of Staff:
The quality of service at this store is excellent; I was floored by some of the other reviews left by women regarding this subject. Whether all dolled up or looking like a bum in sweats, the staff at Curio has always been welcoming and helpful. Having spent a ton of time at the store playing games, I can confidently say that the store does not discriminate against different genders, ages, races, etc. Since the very beginning, I have always been greeted as soon as I arrive at the store, frequently even by name. The staff have always been super knowledgable and helpful – be it in choosing what type of game to pick, which sleeves are the best, which cards would work well in a deck you’re trying to build, etc. At the same time, the staff are very considerate about letting people browse un-​heckled, so if you want help choosing and/​or ordering something, just speak up!
Prices:
To address one reviewer’s comment about the stores prices vs. those on Amazon… any «brick & mortar» store is going to automatically have higher prices for board games because they have overhead costs that amazon would not because of the cost for renting/​operating/​staffing a retail location. HOWEVER, CC’s prices for cards and board games are extremely reasonable and cheaper than other stores I’ve been to. Not to mention they frequently hold board game sales, where you can get games at those discounted rates without needing to get them off of Amazon. Furthermore, for every $ 20 you spend at Curio, they give you a ticket for their raffle, which has some awesome prizes – a nice touch!
In terms of prices for events, it depends on the event – for MTG, entry fees are: $ 5 Standard/​FNM, Legacy, and Modern; $ 15 for drafts (which includes three packs which you can take home), Commander/​EDH is free! All MTG events (except for EDH) I’ve been to have also included prizes for the top players.
Playing Environment:
Curio’s store is set up with plenty of tables and chairs for people to play games, and regularly hosts MTG and board game tournaments and events (there’s a schedule posted on their website). Also, they have snacks and drinks available for purchase, which is really nice when spending long hours there for a tournament or doing back-​to back events. Also, if hungry for a meal, you are welcome to order/​bring in food from the restaurants next door!
Atmosphere:
Having been brand new to MTG when I first started frequenting CC, working my way up through attending many of their events, I was extremely grateful to see how welcoming both staff and players are at the store, for people of all skill levels. It is especially impressive considering that many people at the store are expert players, some even play (or have played) professionally. Whether a competitive player or a novice, CC has managed to foster an excellent playing/​learning environment (yet again, even as a female, I’ve been treated with the utmost respect, and have never witnessed other women have any issues whatsoever).

Much to my delight a friend led me to Curio Cavern. I was overjoyed, another nice game spot in my backyard… the joy didn’t last long however.
It could be just me (or literally EVERY other female reviewer) but as a female I was completely and utterly ignored. I arrived before my friend so I was looking around at the games and not once was I asked if I needed help or even greeted! It this what passes for customer service now-​a-​days? Once my MALE friend did arrive (as a regular) he was greeted and talked to but still no conversation to the lady at the table. Lame.
Not only is this place blatantly sexist, the tables are old and are too big for the tiny space that is this «cavern». It’s also a bit dingy compared to what I like to see in a game store. I realize you might comfortable with this filth in your Mom’s basement but as a wanna-​be respectable establishment open to the public, I don’t want to feel like I need to wash my hands after touching everything in your store.
And their board game prices? HA! Just pop over to Amazon to save at least 15−20% on nearly every title they have.
I’d return to hang out with my friend but I wouldn’t dream of supporting this place by purchasing anything from them.

Great local game store.
I moved into the area and was looking for a good place for my SO and me to hang out. The people there were nice and all the regulars were fun to talk to.
The prices are average but the prize support for competitions they hold there is AMAZING. This is on top of the sheer number of events they hold pertaining to magic the gathering (if you are into that CCG).
I’ve not been back in a while due to finances, but I plan to back due to how amazing a card shop it was.
My one gripe is that the shop is far too small for the number of people that go on weekends. This isn’t something easily fixed so I can’t really take a star away, but I’d love to see them move to a larger location some day.

Curio Cavern is a great place to play Magic. It’s truly a place that wants gamers, and in my opinion, does the most to make sure gamers are happy. The owner, Tom, is a really nice guy. And he also always listens to customer feedback and is always looking for new and interesting things to do to make the game store the place to be. The other employees are also very nice and helpful.
The store holds events every day of the week, across all the different formats, and at reasonable times so that you can get there after work. There’s been a number of times I’ve played at Curio Cavern because I can make their events that start at 7 or 7:30. Unlike other places that start at 6 when I can’t get off of work. They have great prize support, reasonable prices, and the largest selection of Magic singles in the area. And they’ll sometimes do fun things like a free pack for whoever comes in dead last in a tournament.
The monthly raffles are also a great idea. For every $ 20 you spend, you get 1 ticket you can use at a monthly raffle for prizes. Really good prizes. I find myself buying most of my cards at Curio Cavern because 1) they actually have the cards and 2) I can get the raffle tickets.
I will caution though that while this is one of the best stores in the area, it might not be for everyone. They only run Magic and Star Wars events, so if you’re looking for other games like Pokemon you’re going to have to go somewhere else.
The other thing is that it is definitely an older crowd that patrons the store. I’ve rarely met anyone mean, but there’s still some adult language used and a lot of people who are hard-​core playing the game to win. So this probably wouldn’t be my first choice to let young kids play at. It’s definitely for the young adult /​adult crowd.
The store is off of the Franconia-​Springfield Blue Line Metro stop. People will tell you it’s a five minute walk from the station. Don’t listen to them. Although it is well worth it, you’re looking at probably a twenty minute walk from the Metro to the store. Definitely doable, but a bit of a hike.
I also have two minor complaints. The first is that people smoke right outside the front door, and the smoke often wafts into the store. That often makes it difficult for someone like me who has allergies easily triggered by cigarette smoke.
The second is that I wish they would wipe the place down a little bit more often. It’s probably hard because of the volume of people that are constantly in the store, but the floor is always pretty dirty and sometimes the tables are as well. I’ve occasionally had to wipe down my card sleeves with a damp cloth after playing there.
However, I want to make it clear that these are minor quibbles, just little things to improve upon. Curio Cavern is definitely a great store. It is an awesome place to play Magic, and by far the best hang out spot in the area. In fact, it’s the only place in the area I would want to hang out, knowing I can show up any time and day and find someone there who wants to play a game. This has become one of my regular places to play Magic, and I always have a great time there.

First off, not what I was expecting from the name of the place.
I was down here for sushi the other day and spied this place as I drove in the lot. I’m fan of odd little knick knacks — you know the kind of things you find in curios — so I though I’d at least check the place out.
Yeah — its an RPG shop complete with several tables where folks could sit and play. So definitely more cavern than curio.
But the reason I’m only giving them 2 stars is because I was completely ignored the entire time I was in the shop. I get it — perhaps you’re not familiar with the concept that girls know how to roll dice and throw down a wicked spell card, but basic customer service would dictate at least a hello or welcome.
I have a couple friends that love RPGs and this might have been the type of place I might shop for them. Alas, I doubt I’ll be back.

It’s hard to put into words just how good Curio Cavern is. And it starts and ends with the staff. The owner, Tom, has an amazing business. He and his staff are incredibly helpful and friendly, and are often able to help you learn a new game or get better with your current favorites (particularly MTG). There are so many «regulars» at Curio, and it’s pretty easy to see why. Even on days or nights when there are no tournaments going on, you’ll find regulars inside playing cards, board games, or League of Legends. This is, in short, the perfect local gaming store. I am completely impressed.

Without a doubt, a gamers shop.
Curio does one thing, and they do it VERY well — they cater to gamers. And their customer service is top notch.
Experience: Here’s how I knew Curio was the place for me:
I played MTG back in the 90’s/00′, but hadn’t touched the game in years. I went to Curio on a busy Friday night to see about the state of the game. The place was packed for a Friday Night Magic tournament — literally, standing room only. The staff had there hands full, running a professional event for serious gamers
Nevertheless, they took time to ask me if I needed help, and as I continued to pester them with 101-​level questions, they stopped what they were doing, had a smile and a great attitude, and were nothing but all-​stars. The staff knew darn well I wasn’t going to spend a dime that night, but that didn’t faze them. I plan on spending a good chunk of change getting back into the scene, and Curio has my business, without a doubt.
Store: Small to medium sized for a game shop. Comfortable and clean, but definitely cramped and a bit cluttered during events. Could use a few extra stools/​chairs. To be expected, I suppose (tough to lease sq. ft. that you aren’t going to need during the bulk of your business hours).
Location: Typical strip mall spot, right between a pizza shop and a Thai place (yeah, they knew what they were doing when they set up there…).
Bottom Line: If you want to immerse yourself into a gaming world with a staff and clientele that is at the ‘expert’ level, then Curio is the spot for you. The staff will help you get (or stay) there, regardless of your experience. And they’ll do it with patience and a great attitude. Top notch folks!

Probably the best LGS (Local Gaming Store) in the DC Metro area. It’s clear that this place is run by gamers, for gamers. They don’t try to rail you on prices or nickle and dime you on supplies or misc items. All staff members will set down to play with you or explain rules, etc and are very friendly. The space is small but it doesn’t feel cramped, although I haven’t attended a major event there (where I imagine space can get a bit tight).
MTG prices are pegged to SCG prices (which are higher than most trader’s value) but I can’t hold that against a shop that needs to stay in business.
Clientele varies from younger teens new to games to grizzled vets who’ve been playing DnD and Magic since they came out. Overall, I found the folks and the staff very friendly and helpful.
I’d highly recommend new players head here to learn their game, particularly on an event night. There’s lots to learn and good people to learn from. It just goes to show that loving what you do really does translate into the quality of your business. Hope these guys stay around for a good long while.
The shop is about a 5 minute walk from the Metro, so its definitely accessible. Moreover, they run all MTG formats as sanctioned events (yes, even Modern!) so any MTG players can come and fight folks interested in playing.

Awesome LGS has everything you could need or want. Also runs daily/​nightly events and the store employees were helpful and friendly as well!