Valhallas Game Center

Just learned of Vallhallas demise but I’m not surprised at all.
It had a good selection but rarely did I ever see anyone buy anything for good reason. The prices on certain items were quite disheartening.
So long game store…

Valhallas is now closed. I’m sad to hear it, but not surprised.

Valhalla: even guys in viking LARP costumes know this store’s name is a sham. A gaming store with this title should be where kings go to rest, not where fun goes to die. I believe that this store must have started with good intentions (i.e. a geek-​friendly store that puts a premium on the social element of gaming), but all that remains today is a gnarled corpse of such a dream.
I first set foot in Valhalla’s while trying out different gaming stores for Friday Night Magic a few months ago. Dudes at nearby venues had warned me about Valhallas, and the type of clientele they attract, but the thought of being able to walk 10 minutes to FNM was too good to pass up.
When the travel time is the highlight of your gaming experience, you know something’s rotten in the state of Denver. Well, Wheat Ridge, technically. But still, something stinks to high heaven at this would-​be gamer haven.
I’ve tried out FNM at the store twice. The first time, my buddy and I were greeted by a refusal to look up our DCI numbers (a cinch on the Wizards of the Coast database, as it’s never been a problem at any other store I’ve played at), and forced to fill out a new registration card. A small hassle, but a big predictor of things to come. After we filled out our cards, we were blown away by how stupendously the shop owner had misspelled both of our names. I’ll admit my teacher handwriting can be a bit unruly, but both our surnames were butchered beyond recognition when the dude entered them into the computer. Which could work out in my favor, should I ever decide to enter the Magic pro tourneys under the guise of ‘John Huqrmvpxz’.
The return trip, my friend and I were both given the fifth degree about not mailing in our new and incorrect DCI cards. Just what I was hoping for, a frivolous guilt trip the second I set foot in the door! I get the impression that the guy manning the counter that night gets his kicks by bullying his more feeble customers into submission. The painfully obvious reality is that, even if you’re the alpha dork, at the end of the day, YOU’RE STILL A DORK, GUY. So cut the crap and treat your customers like you actually appreciate their business. They’ll probably return the favor.
The arduous enlistment process behind us, we made haste to the back of the store to assess the field for battle. Again, I’m sure that the guys who opened the place had lofty goals when they opened the store – perhaps as lofty as the ceilings in the sterile, uncomfortable gaming room in the back of Valhalla’s. Mom’s basement never sounded so inviting. While I don’t expect the red carpet treatment at any Magic tournament, I might also hope for the type of furniture that doesn’t promote ‘swamp ass’ in all its treacherous forms. If the play’s the thing, at least try and get something better than folding chairs and plywood tables for your players, guys.
As previous reviewers have touched on, the movie theater-​style policy on food and drink is annoying, albeit understandable. Dudes wanna make bank on Hot Pockets and Mountain Dew, why should customers stand in the way? What is less sensible is the power trip that I witnessed the shopkeep unleash on a customer every time they’d walk through the front door with a bag of chips. If you like some venom and harassment with your gaming experience, you’ve come to the right astral plane! My customer service experience here has ranged from surly to flat-​out rude, but maybe I have unrealistic expectations from men who fancy themselves viking gods (as evidenced by their email handles: contact
to report any missing warhammers).
The plus sides to Valhalla are few, but worth mentioning: there’s a big couch and a bitching flatscreen TV that plays B-​grade sci-​fi movies at all waking hours. The settings for tabletop games were lovingly adorned, and the guys getting their Warhammer on seemed blissfully oblivious to the plight of their card-​flopping brethren in the adjacent gameroom. Finally, while the store seemed to attract a strange mix of the outwardly hostile and agonizingly arrogant Magic player, I can’t say I didn’t meet a couple down-​to-​earth folks during my brief stint at Valhalla’s. I’m just not sure I’d be willing to dredge the waters again to find the few good men spending their Friday nights at a place like this. Sorry, fellas. It was nice meeting you, and I hope we’ll do battle again someday. But me and my longship have moved on to greener pastures.
One (possible) saving grace: the store’s website (here:
) proudly proclaims they’re under new management! Verily! This could prove very fortunate for the neighboring kingdoms of gamers. I maintain that the owners probably DID have some sort of nerd heaven in mind when they designed Valhalla’s. But along the way, the bawdy rules and craptacular customer service just plain sucked the fun out of a great idea. Here’s hoping they have a better crack with a new chieftain in tow

As others have said, its big, spacious, and well equipped for gaming fun. Too bad the staff are some of the most rude and uncaring sods this side of the Rockies.
Their attitude is that of commerce profit and not consumer friendly.
Minor issues about personal food are made more troublesome by the fact there are no convenience stores or fast food stores within walking distance, and not too many within driving distance.
Other minor issues with cliquish gamers and tournaments make this place an un-​attractive place to go to on a regular basis.

This is a true game center. As you enter, you are presented with several racks of games from role playing to board games.
Off to the left is a video game center with several computers for LAN parties.
As you head back, on the left is a small TV sitting room with a few couches and a TV. On the right are two rooms for miniatures and several lockers.
At the back is a larger room with 10 or 15 tables perfect for gaming.
Up the stairs is the board gaming area.
Probably the only real complaint is that you aren’t allowed to bring in your own food or drinks. With the size of the place, it’d be hard to keep on top of everyone who came in so it does make sense but it does drop it a star for me. I do know of others who go and like the overall ambiance of the center.