MN B.
Yelp
Since moving to Milwaukee from Minneapolis, I've been missing my beloved Gamezenter, and have been looking for a good TTRPG-friendly local game store. I've been disappointed in the TTRPG scene in Milwaukee. All of the game stores target board games, miniature games, or collectible card games. None I've visited have good play spaces for tabletop role-playing games. I was losing hope--but am thrilled to have discovered The Sanctum.
I drove out to The Sanctum Tabletop Gaming Emporium in Racine to play a one-shot of Mork Borg this evening. What a treasure of a FLGS! It's an over half-hour drive from where I live in Milwaukee, but it is worth the drive for an evening of playing a TTRPG. It is not a huge space but they use the space very well.
It is the best laid out and decorated FLGS I've been to. There are so many thoughtful touches from the aisle signage to the wall decor. They don't have anywhere near the number of tables that my go-to FLGS in the Twin Cities (Gamezenter) has, but they do a decent number and they are divided up into a small maze of rooms in a way that you don't have the loud con-like levels of noise that larger spaces suffer from. They have a number of single table rooms as well.
The private game rooms have cool decorations. The one I played in was decorated based on Call of Cthulhu with tentacled base reliefs along the wall, a wall with a large old-school link chat taking up most of a wall connecting newspaper clippings, photos, etc. Even the furniture had an old early 1900s vibe, from the nice wood table, a wooden china cabinet displaying some near-east looking urn, etc. I wanted to check out the other private game rooms but people were playing in them. The chairs were comfortable.
They follow the rent-a-table model. For reserved or open play, you pay $5 for a day pass. But the $5 you pay can also be used as in-store credit. You need a minimum of two people to reserve a table. They give you a custom Sanctum metal coin, which is a cool touch. I gave mine to the DM that ran the game I played at, but I want to go back sometime and get a coin just to keep. I know that the rent-a-table model can be controversial. My FLGS in the Twin Cities, Gamezenter, experimented with this model, but ended it in under a year. But I don't know how creating great play spaces for TTRPGs works otherwise. Stores that get away with not doing this tend to rely on Magic and other CCG events. CCG optimized spaces make for less than ideal TTRPG spaces and TTRPGs tend to get sidelined at stores focused on CCGs.
The Sanctum is a great example of how to make this work and feel worth it. The money you pay can be used as store credit. You get an great place to play and it gives you access to their game rental library. They also have free wifi.
They sell a small selection of sodas and snacks, but do not have a kitchen. They do allow you to bring outside food and beverages. Personally, unless the FLGS sells really good food, I prefer this model. There are plenty of fast food and take-out places nearby.
Another thing that stands out with The Sanctum is their great website. Very clear and easy to reserve tables and find upcoming games and events. Most FLGS websites are awful. Also, it was a pleasant surprise to see games other than D&D and Pathfinder.
They even have a page on their website listing other FLGS in the area, which I thought was pretty classy.
They also have consignment shelves for selling used games.
In short, I'm happy to have found a great FLGS for TTRPGs in reasonable driving distance. The Sanctum will be my go to for TTRPGs.
