TWO SCOTS businessmen will open a new social hub and retail space for trading card and tabletop roleplay gamers.
The Thistle Tavern Games Hub is set to open on Saturday, 29 June 2024 at 395 Union Street, Aberdeen due to its location relative to the cities public transport.
Stuart Robb and Andrew Rayner decided that it was time to move their online business into a physical location and also expand their business to include board games and Dungeons and Dragons miniatures.
Receiving two £20,000 Start Up Loans from the British Business Bank and DSL Business Finance alongside support from Our Union Street, this had all become possible.
This shop is set to have a front retail space as well as rooms for hire in the back for gaming and trading.
It is also set to employ a full-time retail manager and hopes to employ more permanent employees by the years end, creating more jobs in the area.
Andrew, a senior business analyst at a payroll firm, and Stuart, a senior product manager for a recruitment technology company, travel across the globe to compete in trading card tournaments.
The global trading card game market is predicted to be worth $4.27 billion by 2028, the duo hope to create a Team Scotland, formed of trading card enthusiasts seeking to compete at national and international levels.
Stuart said: “We know from the existing Geek Retreat store on Union Street that there is a very active community and there’s demand for a gaming hub, so we have decided now is the right time to move into premises.
“We aim to appeal to professionals and those who already play but want to get better and meet new players who are into the same games.
“We have been selling trading cards, such as Pokémon, online since April 2023, and we are excited to bring a space for gamers to the city centre.
“We chose the location as it’s close to the west end but within easy reach of the train and bus stations to help us attract more players from outside Aberdeen.
“We decided not to add a café but instead to encourage visitors to use other outlets on Union Street and to spend time in the surrounding area. The market is considerable and we are looking forward to seeing where the Thistle Tavern Games Hub takes us.”
The businesses move into the physical location has been welcomed by Our Union Street, which has the goal of driving regeneration to attract people and businesses to Aberdeen’s main street.
Our Union Street receives funding from Aberdeen City Council amongst other bodies and, as over £100m is put towards regenerating the city centre, they have made incentive packages to attract new businesses.
Bob Keiller, leader of Our Union Street, said: “It’s great to see different types of businesses coming onto the street, including those that are activity based.
“It’s important that we encourage different demographics to the city centre and we wish Stuart, Andrew and the team at Thistle Tavern Games Hub continued success in their new home.”
