Wanderers’ Refuge

Really great game store in the neighborhood. Had a lot of fun during game nights and everyone was so nice. The owner tries really hard to order items for me and had no problems at this store.

Absolutely love this place. The owner is extremely friendly and inviting. She will always order something if it’s not in stock. Great selection of games and gifts. Give it a try!

It’s a surprisingly well appointed store for its size and the employees are gracious and helpful.

BY far and wide this is the best Game shop in Illinois, and by best I mean, Customer service like you were family, Genuinely kind and decent couple that I wish the world of success for!
Parents, You CANNOT find a better store in which to find games that your kids will love to play! The owners will answer your questions like your best friend would. This place is a GEM! If I didn’t move to Lockport, I would be here on a weekly basis.
Let’s recap:
1. Fantastic Customer Service.
2. You feel like you are at home when playing/​Gaming there.
3. Great selection of games and gaming items.
4. They are great with your children.
5. They don’t allow bullying, profanity or rude behavior. Perfect place for all to play nice and have a great time.

Yes, this is how you run a gaming store.
I’ve been to Wanderer’s Refuge a couple times just to browse their decently sized collection of card and board game, they’ve been great even when I was just browsing. They also have some board games that are just ready to play right there which is always awesome.
Being an avid magic player, I gave this place a shot last night for the Theros prerelease tournament and I can’t begin to tell you all the things this place did that make it stand out from other gaming stores.
1) They are organized. They run on time, their isn’t confusion about pairings, people are able to move about freely despite the limited space, the store layout just makes good sense.
2) They are hospitable and clean. Clean store, clean restrooms, clean patrons… this is not something you can take for granted at gaming stores and I was thankful for it here. Also they provided complementary coffee/​cookies and a freaking veggie tray! Sometimes it is the small things and this place gets it.
3) They are personable. I really appreciate the fun, laid-​back, and most strikingly, mature atmosphere that they have fostered here. The managers seem to have some great relationships with many of the customers and even as a new person, once they got my name they never forgot it.
In short, I loved this place. A gaming store that really caters to a slightly more mature audience. I already reserved a slot for one more tournament here, it was just that much fun.
Kudos!

I’ve now been to Tuesday night board games at Wanderer’s Refuge 3 times in the past month. While it’s much smaller than the Dice Dojo and they don’t have as many games available, I think this works to their advantage. Cozy and inviting are the terms that spring to mind. It feels like you’re playing games in somebody’s library as opposed to their basement (sorry, Dojo). And, the smaller groups seem to be more welcoming.
My only negative would be that the smaller store means a smaller inventory. They may need to place an order if they don’t have exactly what you’re looking for. But, if you plan on attending their events on a regular basis, this isn’t too much of a problem.

Very awesome place! My partner and I both love board so we decided to go in. The gentleman who helped us was very knowledgeable and friendly! Can’t wait to play the game we purchased.

Let me tell you about how truly excellent Wanderer’s Refuge is as both a business and a destination for gaming and socializing.
I first visited WR around December 2012, having only recently moved to the USA from the UK. I did not know many people and I was still awaiting my employment clearance which left me with a lot of time to myself and not all that much to do with it. So I thought I would look into Tabletop gaming and was very pleased to hear that a store had recently opened in my neighborhood dedicated to just this type of venture!
I went on over there and met one of the owners, Aileen and had a fantastic time learning more about tabletop play and also interacting with someone who is simply good to talk to!
Since then it has been a joy to see the store develop into a growing destination for many people in the area. I’ve met many interesting and lovely people there and the plethora of events being hosted there and the dedication of the owners always ensure a night at Wanderer’s Refuge is interesting and fun. The focus is really on fairness and inclusion and making everybody feel welcome. This is not a run down, basement level pit, it’s a real storefront with real people who actually talk and interact with you!
It’s been a key element in my experience of Chicago and I couldn’t imagine the area without it. To those of you who may be on the fence about visiting, please… come on down! I really cannot recommend it enough. Good people, good games, good times.
If you’re looking for a game store that doubles as a social destination for your gaming. A place where you can meet like minded individuals with similar interests and with management that genuinely cares not only about the business they operate but about you personally… then this is the place for you!
Thank you guys! Long may Wanderer’s Refuge continue!

A wonderful place to game. The owners are friendly, and offer a fun and inclusive environment for everyone to enjoy. I frequently visit for friday night magic, and the crowd of regulars are great.

I can’t say enough good things about this place! The owners are super friendly, as are most of the patrons. The store itself is clean, we’ll stocked, great prices. I’ve been to a couple of board game nights and had a blast each time. I will be back, and I wish them great success!

This is a great little shop with a fantastic location easily accessible to public transit — Western bus or Western brown line.
Dice Dojo is way out of my way. Cat & Mouse felt awkward when I went there. Wanderers’ Refuge felt just right. A very welcoming place, I’ve been twice now and both times were fantastic experiences. I went once on International Tabletop Day in the evening and then I brought a bunch of folks who had never been before for Tuesday night board gaming recently. My friends had their heart set on playing Elder Signs and, even though they have set games that they walk through for their Tuesday night sessions (it’s not really an open-​gaming), they were super accommodating and let us play the game my friends had their heart set on.
This is a place where you don’t just go in to buy a game (though you certainly can). This is a place going out of its way to build a sense of community and I really appreciate that. Whether you play Magic The Gathering or Ticket To Ride, this place will welcome you with open arms. They ask only that you show respect for everyone who steps foot in their store and abide by Wheaton’s Law and that’s certainly not too much to ask.

For the last four years, I have been on a quest for a gaming store to call my own. When I first started I found the Dice Dojo on Broadway unfortunately it was too far out of the way for me to visit frequently. Then I found Cat & Mouse and for three years, I came regularly for D&D encounters. But after three years of great hosting, they decided that the Wednesday night gaming didn’t fit well with their store hours. So, my friends and I were on the search again. About 2 months ago, we found Wanderer’s Refuge. For me, their store name is quite appropriate for the journey I have been on.
The store is small but you can find most games the typical gamer would be looking for. However, their friendliness, their passion for games, and their comfortable playing areas fully make up for their size.
Each time I have been there, they have a number of customers and quite a few loyal followers in the store. The sense of community among everyone is pretty strong and infectious. If you haven’t made a trek to Wanderer’s Refuge, I would strongly encourage you to go.
One last thing, it has a very convenient location. It is located on Western just south of Wilson. It is only minutes from the Lincoln Stop by CTA and minutes from LSD or the Kennedy by car. So stop on by and enjoy a great gaming store.

Here’s the thing, people who love games love to share games. Games by their very nature are a very social activity but games aren’t for everyone.
I was more than ecstatic when I was told Wanderers’ Refuge opened in my neighborhood. I was even more thrilled when I discovered it wasn’t a dingy run-​down store. Bright, beautiful and welcoming, the owners have taken great care in creating an environment that makes browsing games comfortable.
It goes beyond browsing and buying games though. Wanderers’ Refuge takes the idea of playing games seriously, with a game library for customers to test out a game to make sure it is a good fit.
The game nights are fun and I’ve met many really nice people playing games here.
PRO TIP: Don’t be picky about the game you play, playing new things, playing new genres, playing things you normally wouldn’t choose to play is exactly the reason to come to a game night. Be game to play games.
Be warned — Wheaton’s Law is enforced at Wanderers’ Refuge. You’ve been warned.

I was really excited when I saw that a game store had gone in close to my home and this place did not disappoint. The owner is very nice and very helpful. My three yr old loves the game that we bought for her and keeps asking to go back. I haven’t been able to check out any of the gaming there yet, but I hope to soon!