Wade’s World Gaming opens in downtown Carrollton

Wade’s World Gaming LLC has opened in downtown Carrollton on the square with the intent to provide locals, especially young people, a safe, nearby place to gather and play card games and board games.

Owner Jessica Wade, a U.S. Navy veteran who served from 2009 to 2011 aboard the USS Wasp, has been a Magic: The Gathering player since the late 1990s. She is married to Damien Luginbuhl and has two kids.

After more than two years of steady online sales through the card-selling website TCGplayer, Wade decided it was time to bring her business into a storefront. Most local hobbyists drive 45 minutes to reach the nearest shops, and Wade wanted to create a community hub where players wouldn’t have to travel far.

“I have already had people stop in and they are thankful they don’t have to drive 45 minutes anymore to buy or play cards,” Wade said.

Wade has organized higher-value Magic singles in glass cases, while rows of alphabetized boxes let players browse bulk cards. A customer laptop mirrors her online inventory so shoppers can quickly find specific cards.

She will soon be expanding into Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! singles and is steadily adding puzzles, family board games and role-playing titles such as Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder and Call of Cthulhu.

“Right now we don’t deal in sports cards,” Wade said. “It is not really my thing and another place in the area deals in sports cards.”

The shop does accept trade-ins for cards at 50% value for cash, 60% value for store credit or $10 for every 1,000 cards of bulk.

Tournaments and meetups are a large component of the shop. Magic is the flagship game, with Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! planned as stock grows. A Warhammer 40K group is also organizing and has permission to use the shop. A Dungeons & Dragons community is also forming.

A small snack bar, designed with diabetic-friendly options, keeps players fueled during longer events.

Beginning in October, Wade’s World Gaming LLC will also host rotating “learn to play” nights — starting with Magic, then moving into RPG basics — so newcomers can try games without investing in costly decks or manuals. A $5 fee helps cover operating costs. Event details will be posted on Facebook and soon will be promoted with flyers around town.

Looking ahead, Wade plans to add more RPG stock and shelving and eventually invest in a 3D printer for custom minis. Her long-term vision is to move into a larger space and build a modern arcade-style lounge with desktop computers and consoles, giving patrons the option to play all day for a flat fee. For now, her focus remains local: creating a welcoming, walkable destination where players of all ages can learn, connect and play together.

“I wanted a place where people could gather to hang out, and maybe find people with like-minded or similar interests,” Wade said.

Store hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. During tournaments the store may be open longer. She is currently looking to expand to some weekdays, so check the Wade’s World Gaming LLC Facebook page for updates. The store can be reached at 330-205-8919 and is located at 49 Public Square, Carrollton beside Lane's Corner.