Games Workshop Westminster Center

It’s a small store, but their manager makes it a huge impact on gamers. This is the only place where you will see a fully painted GW city terrain table. Their manager knows nearly EVERYTHING about the games and the hobby. And they special order stuff for you no problem. Although some other stores may offer small discounts on GW box sets, nearly all places charge the same for books, paints, brushes, audio dramas, tools, and accessories. So support these GW stores when and where you can, without them we are stripped of valuable game culture, knowledge and passion strictly for this IP.

Notice how all of the good reviews are from 3+ years ago?
This place used to be a huge center for the WHF and WH40K community in the area but has since condensed into an area one third the size, eliminating its huge room of gaming tables. I asked «why the downsize?» last time I was in and the lone guy working there told me it’s because GW wants to open MORE stores and offered an example of the newer store in FRESNO. Im not 100% certain but I don’t think a big, fun store in Westminster was draining the hobbyist pool up in ol’ Fresno and preventing expansion. Also, their hours of operation are greatly reduced and several times I’ve run into them being closed when they should be open.
I don’t even know how they would have room for all the tournaments, leagues, painting and terrain workshops they used to run… but even if they do, it’s a really sad shadow of what they used to be. You can still buy all of their expensive stuff at MSRP and they’re fairly well stocked but instead I take my business to one of the best local shops around in Garden Grove for better prices, better staff and some fun.
Don’t let all of the OLD Unilocal pictures fool you, their huge gaming space and sweet tables are gone.

I was considering starting up a new 40k army after not playing for over 7 years. Everyone I knew that plays has moved out of CA. I was excited to go back to this store because they always had a huge area for people to set up games when I was actively playing. I was disappointed to find that not only was the store closed, but they also removed the entire «bunker» for gaming. Nowhere to play any games means I won’t be starting a new army or playing again. Great business model Games Workshop.

Great store with a great manager. Makes finding games easy and gives great tips to hobbyists!

Stopped by to check it out on my lunch break and pick up some supplies. It was locked up. The store is closed between 3 and 3:30 for lunch. It was 3:35 when I was there. Not to be a stickler but my time was very limited so I couldn’t wait. Oh well, back to good ol’ Brookhurst hobbies after work then. Well worth the extra drive.

Awesome store I just walked to take a quick look after seeing it so many times and ended up walking out with another great hobby to spend time on. The Staff are great at working with people and very friendly (instead of akward and weird like most businesses), when I came in an employee showed me the painting table and taught me how to paint the figures and showed me how to play the Lord of the Rings game on one of the Tables in the front room. I was really nervous at first and thought I might having a hard time picking it up, but staff explained it all easily and were very willing to help me and seemed to really enjoy what they do. I ended up picking it up faster than I normally do things and had a great time. I was walked through all the aspects of Warhammer 40k and shown starter sets for beginners and was asked if I would like to buy one, even though I explained i didn’t have the money at the time they never pressured me and still showed me around more stuff, said i can keep the figure i painted and told me about the events. Definitely will come back and spend a whole ton of money on the starters sets, especially since thankfully my birthday is soon. Looks like a great place to hang out at all the time.

I think I just had aneurysm from the amount of nerdiness this place exudes and went to Nerd Valhalla. They have a vast gaming arena and great staff.
I wish I could say more but I think my mind is still slush from going.

Huge tables to play on, and great staff. I hadn’t gone for a long time, and upon returning, the new employees were just as friendly and knowledgeable as the old staff. Had good conversation with staff and more than a few of the customers, and I love playing there. In terms of prices, it’s been a little more, since the recent price boost, but you know what you’re getting into price-​wise with any GW product anyway. I ignore my local GW for anything beyond direct order and playing, since the service at the L.A. Bunker is much better and a friendlier atmosphere than my workshop. I make the trek from Tustin/​Irvine up to the Bunker, which should help tell how worth it is to make the trip. I LOVE the Bunker!

Great store! I took my two sons today. We were all greeted warmly by the staff member and had all of our questions answered. I really appreciated the fact the staff member took time to listen to, and engage, my ten year old who can be quite the inquisitive young man. That is a big plus in my book.
My sons really enjoyed viewing the gaming tables and the painted miniatures. Product selection is just like any other Games Workshop location and we found what we needed/​wanted.
We do not live in the area but plan to visit again the next time we are in town. Customer service is top notch (as I have found to be the case in all GW stores) and I hate to say it, the exception rather than the norm these days.
I highly recommend checking this place out!

This is the BUNKER! TONS of tables, I think over 20! They have the glass front wall of the bunker lined with long tables to sit and paint miniatures. Cases of painted armies! constant events, and I mean constant events every day of the week! Places like this you have to be supported, there are so few like this place.

My first experience here was very good. Questions are answered well by a staff who all obviously play the game quite a bit, and the experience in the front room of the shop is clearly tailored for newbies.
The back of the shop, which dwarfs the front, is all about playing the games that are for sale here. If you’re into GW’s miniatures, chances are you already know this is a serious mecca in the area. I’m glad I live close enough to here to get some use out of the army I’ve just started up!

As much as I love going here and working on my mini’s, the store manager, James has a tendency to be really loud and obnoxious he really kills the vibe of the store and uses pressure selling to get you to buy stuff which I find very annoying. I usually try to go in when he’s not there or ignore him and tune him out when he is. Besides that, the staff is really helpful and knowledgeable if you have questions or need help with putting things together or need some pointers with painting your mini’s. If you’re looking for a hobby and like gaming this is def something to check out.

Get here early, cuz you’ll spend a lot of time here between the 24 gaming tables, the display cases of AMAZING «paintsmenship» and talking Warhammer with new friends.
Feel free to ask the staff for ANYTHING. Super knowledgeable, helpful and nice. I’m a total beginner and mostly in it for the painting (my boys play) But after James (the store manager) showed me and the boys some painting techniques, my painting is on a whole different level now. People that have great painting skills look at my pieces and say «Pretty good for a beginner. Mine didn’t look that good when I started.»
Thanks James. You ROCK!!!

stopped in a little before closing time tonight because we were shopping at ross and as we were driving away, i remembered that i wanted to show my 9 year old the shop! when we walked in we were greeted very warmly by dave and he asked if we wanted to check out the free demo.
my 9 year old went for it and i took the opportunity to check out the other room with tables and displays. it was MASSIVE. the painting on these little figures is so intricate and definitely something to check out.
as i made my way back into the store area, i noticed how much dave loves his job and kept my boy busy. customer service like that is RARE these days and it’s much appreciated!
after the demo — which D (my 9 year old) WON :) he showed us a starter set for $ 60, not bad at all but we don’t let the kids indulge unless it’s their birthday or christmas… dave mentioned that if you buy everything seperate, the retail value would be $ 371 :EEK he also mentioned that D could come in and they would teach how to paint and play.
i reminded D that he couldn’t purchase anything until his birthday in may and dave gave him a free figure! we thanked dave and i made sure i grabbed a calendar. before we pulled away my husband noticed they close at 11PM on friday and saturday, how cool is that!
THANK YOU SO MUCH DAVE! YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB! i’m sure we’ll be back!

Well, crap, missed first to review by 5 days — oh well, my own laziness. However, I did add pictures!
I don’t profess to understand this gaming world, nor do I play it, but I know those that do. However, I did go to purchase a gift, and I had a look around the shop and spoke to those that played there.
Situated in a large Westminster strip mall, the shop at first glance seems small.
Upon entering, you will soon realize that yes, the «store» portion is small, but the gaming area is huge.
The store is a compact area, filled with gaming equipment, from Warhammer figures, to supplies used to put them together, paint them, and store them. They even sell gaming tables that you can place on top of your own table so you can play at home.
So let’s talk about the gaming area. The store provides a gaming area that is FREE to use! No entrance or use fee. You just need to find an open table to play. And those tables are large, 4′ x 8′, each one with different gaming lands. They also have other pieces available that you can place on the table to personalize the configuration. There are over 20 tables for people to use, as well as a workshop table where people work on their gaming and model figures. Did I mention that this area is FREE to use?
While I’m not a gamer that plays these types of games, this shop (and I’ve seen a couple of other similar stores) seems to be run well by the staff and has an enthusiastic group of game players.
By the way, if you need to use the restroom, watch out for the sentinel guard…

Yes, another dork review, my apologies.
Games Workshop has been making 28 mm miniatures and tabletop miniature games for about three decades. They started out strictly as a miniatures company to fill a niche for all the folks that played D&D and wanted quality miniatures. Then the got into producing games using their own mini’s, a number of ‘speciality’ games, as well as a line of model paint. Their ‘main line’ games consist of Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer 40,000 (called WH40K, their sci-​fi universe) and Lord of the Rings (yes, they got the licensing from New Line and whoever else and figured to release minis in 25mm).
The GW stores run weekly events, such as painting class, how to build armies and other such dorkiness. They also have a huge room devoted to gaming, with ~20 tables stocked with terrain. If you’ve seen model railroad layouts, you might see what I’m getting at. They also have some painting stations, so you can work on a project while at the shop.
Employees are all knowledgeable about their games; you can always has questions or kibitz with ‘em («Back in 2^nd edition 40K I had a Eldar pirate on a jetbike with a bionic leg, bionic eye, power sword and a vortex detenator…»). A couple of people (Isaac in particular) was a regular customer who ended up working there (just like the Hair Club for Men president).
The Bunker is in the mall complex, close to the 405 and some eateries within walking distance. I’ll get the hours when I swing by and play a Blood Bowl match today.