"The Compleat Strategist" Topic

I was at Boston University this past weekend to see my daughter get her master's degree. While wandering along Commonwealth Avenue to kill some time, I was amazed to see a sign for a Compleat Strategist store. I was also saddened that the sign said it was going out of business. I had assumed that they had all gone out of business years ago, but a Google search shows that there are still a few around, including the one in King Of Prussia which I used to frequent. You learn something every day.

Shame to hear the Compleat Strategist is not long for this world in Boston.

If you're up in Boston and driving, the Hobby Bunker in Malden is always worth a visit. My daughter and I killed an hour in there on a recent visit to MIT. She bought D&D and I bought PSC.

Funny I read this post right now. I stopped by a Compleat Strategist during my lunch break at work. Hadn't been in there for over 5 years but was hoping to get a copy of the May wargames Illustrated.

Place was a mess. No gaming tables and a mish mash of inventory that was overtaking the store. They had a March issue of WI. My guess is that GW and FFG sales are what keep it afloat but I'm pretty surprised it's still around.

I last visited the King of Prussia store in 1985. So, it would be a bit hypocritical of me to mourn it if it went away.

I was in New York City maybe three years ago and visited the Compleat Strategist in Manhattan. I hadn't planned to; I just noticed it as we were walking by, and I decided to go in. The last time that I had been inside was probably 1979. It felt much the same.

I think I only been there once and was not impressed compared to Hobby Bunker. Also it was Boston, so finding parking is a major pain.

The one in K of P is still there? Who'd have thunk…

I was about to say the same for the one in Manhattan. Least, I think that was what I visited LONG ago…

Doug

The one in Manhattan is still there. My brother's office was around the corner in the 80's. Only visited there a couple of times since.

Visited the NY one in 2007 and 2009, made me miss all the local shops we lost all the more.

The store in King of Prussia is still there (was there about 2 months ago). Still mostly focused on Board Games and the usual cards, etc.not much in miniatures.

Back in 2008 and 2009 I used to play with the Warmongers there (in the Manhattan store). They had a really nice basement set up. Good times!

The KoP store was the first place in my area I got figures from.

The KoP store was originally "Strategy and Fantasy World" (in a different location) and had a lot of miniatures.

I visited the 33rd St/NYC Strategist this past winter. Seemed fairly busy, as ever. Dropped $80 USD in minutes. :O

Regards,
Keith F.

I was at the one in Falls Church, VA just outside Washington DC back in February.

I've not been to the Falls Church one in about a decade – back then it should really have changed the name to a GW store.

I use to go to shop in Philly a billion years ago when I worked and went to graduate school there.

I worked at the Strategist for a couple of months back in 1978 (OMG!) It had just opened and they had satellite stores in Montclair NJ and Davie FL. Nice people to work for. Back then it was more historical figure and board game oriented. SPI was at its height. Duke had just merged with Heritage, and Minifigs was still in Pine Plains, NY. The new York scene was dominated by Joe Miceli, John Guarneschelli and Scott Bizar. D & D was in its infancy. Ah, the youthful memories!

Tom D1: shared memories! My first wargaming group was run by Joe Miceli (playing Empire and 1776) at The Strategist.

That period was an interesting time and vibrant scene in NY.

John Guarneschelli became a life-long friend.

R'/ Joe

I was in the one on 33rd the other week – a bit of a time warp and I was astounded it kept going to be honest!

I didnt realise they were a chain of more than one store.

Wow, This brings back ancient thoughts of proof reading the 1776 ruleset, back in 1976 with Joe Miceli. What a helpful and welcoming fellow he was, and such a wonderful painter, showing me his techniques on the latest hinchliffe figures.

It was worth the subway ride to his Brooklyn home, via Manhattan, from Queens to gawk at his terrain and remark on the changes in WRG from editions 3 to 5 to 6. A great thread, and I also much enjoyed the complete strategist back in the day when I used to shop there!