A new game store called Dragon’s Fury Games & Anime opened last week just north of the NorthTown Mall, at 41 E. Queen.

The shop is co-owned by Spokane native Nikita Countryman and her husband, Russell, who recently moved to back to Spokane from Seattle.

“Games have always been kind of a personal interest of Russell’s, and I’ve always enjoyed business as a whole,” says Countryman. “So, I got my business degree, which allowed us to start something new together that combined our interests.”

Countryman says the two are leasing the business’s 3,100-square-foot location, which formerly was occupied by a dance studio. 

“We had a family friend help us remodel the space, and we’re the only two employees right now,” she says. “As we grow, we’ll hire more people as needed, and hopefully expand our hours.”

So far, the store includes a large sales floor with board games, card games, and accessories, with a large collection of Magic the Gathering cards, anime figurines and model kits, manga graphic novels, DVDs, T-shirts and other merchandise, she says.

While the sales floor is open already, Countryman says the back part of the store is still being developed into a game library space that will offer a selection of 200 different games for customers to drop in and play. 

“We’ll have booths and other seating as well as snacks and beverages available,” she says. “Admission will be $5 per adult, but each adult purchase includes one child’s admission too. We plan to open that space in the next two to three months.”

Looking ahead, Countryman says the store also hopes to begin hosting gaming events and begin introducing players to others in the area who share their interests.

“Sometimes it’s hard to find others to play with or stores that carry items you’re looking for,” she says. “We want to be a place that supports all different types of games people enjoy playing, somewhere they can come to play and create friendships.”