This place really stood out to me. So much so I figured it would be my first Yelp review.
I had a stellar experience coming here for the first time. I'm brand new to the hobby, but I needed supplies and I figured I'd see what the whole hubbub is about. Prior to visiting this store I bought my Warhammer products online, so I was genuinely curious what a "Warhammer" even looked like. Also I didn't want to keep paying for shipping (It's 10$ flat shipping to order Games Workshop products online for anything unless you spend over 65$).
I'm keenly aware of when someone is a "salesperson". I've gone to retail stores and been put off by people who try to upsell me things when I'm obviously uncomfortable and just want to scope the place out. I got none of those vibes from here.
Walking into Warhammer was about as cool of an experience as a thirty-year-old dude can have. It might not be anything special to a veteran of a gaming hobby, but for a newbie like me and my friend, it was great. Walking through the doors, you're greeted to a fantastic display of Warhammer miniatures laid out on a battlefield. It's a nice hook to get you to check the store out further, and my friend was pretty blown away by the whole setup.
Past the display on either wall are the games. On the right wall is Warhammer 40k, and on the left is Warhammer Age of Sigmar. The walls are lined with boxes and organized in a way that makes it easy to find what you're after. For example, the Age of Sigmar wall has shelves containing sets for players new to the game. Further down the wall, the boxes are separated by faction (There are 4 "Grand Alliances" in AoS: Order, Chaos, Death, and Destruction.)
And the stock is pretty massive. I had a tough time visually digesting everything, but I guess that just means I have to go back this weekend!
Past the walls lined with minis and sets are the craft tools and paints. For anyone not familiar with Warhammer (the game, not the store), it's played with miniatures. The plastic minis come on sprues and need to be cut off and put together with glue, though some are "push fit" and do not require glue. From there they can be painted, which lends a fun artistic touch to your own personal army. The tools sold at this shop are officially from the Games Workshop "Citadel" collection, as are the paints. You won't find anything really non-Citadel from the store, but that's okay because the supplies are top quality.
Basically, everything you need to start the hobby can be gotten here. Anything to further your mastery of gameplay, collecting, or miniature are can be found here. It's a really nice stop if you find yourself needing supplies.
I'm also a "lore" sort of guy. I like delving into the stories. And there is a lot of literature to go along with Age of Sigmar and 40k. The store has a ton of books. Novels for lore, guides for painting and preparing, and books to enhance gameplay. I really appreciated the diversity available to buy.
The best part is there is a kiosk in store. If they ever don't have anything, you can easily use the kiosk to order what you need from online and delivered to the store. Also the delivery is free, so no flat shipping fee required. Plus, ordering from the kiosk helps support Warhammer Manhattan Beach! It's a win-win situation if you ever need something.
I think I got through most everything that the store sells. What else does it do? Well, this is probably the reason I was most attracted to the store and not put off by the fact it's a retail place. The people working the shop are fantastic, and there's more to do at the store than just shop.
My friend and I were greeted by Dan as we walked in. Dan gave us a good overview of the hobby that really helped my friend out, as he was even more new to Warhammer than I was. We could both tell that Dan was passionate about the hobby not because as an employee he needs to make sales, but because he loves what he does.
He made sure we knew he's a resource when it comes to Warhammer. If we have questions about how to play the game, need advice on how to build or paint a model, we can always have his input. This sort of reassurance is much appreciated as a newcomer, and helps me get even further into the hobby.
So the stock is great, the employees are great...what else could there be? Well, it sure seems like there's a ton of social events that happen throughout the week. Not only do people come in store to paint and build, but they have tables available to play Warhammer as well. For planned events you can expect things like painting competitions, war games, release parties, and more. I have not been to any of these events yet, but I can't wait to put aside some time to do so.
In closing, kudos to Warhammer Manhattan Beach for being a fantastic store. From their extensive stock, to their layout, to their community and events, and their passion for the hobby. I know I'm coming back this weekend to preorder the Soul Wars starter box! read more