Geeky Teas & Games- Burbank, CA

UPDATE: AUGUST 2024 Below is my review of the OLD store. Management has recently moved to a new location that is quite excellent. I will post a new review on a new blog post.

Burbank, California- Geeky Teas & Games is a store that removes a lot of the corporate and leans into small local business.

The subtitle outside the store reads, "Tea, Board Games, Cats" but has much more to offer you when you go inside. Yes, the store does sell local tea mixes and it does have a selection of board games and cats (cats not for sale) but there are a number of other things for sale that I am not use to when browsing board game stores; British snacks and homemade candles. This store has a lot of character and it shows quickly by prioritizing fun decor, vibrant colors and diverse display options over a uniform/traditional look.

Being honest, it is hard for me to write this review. I do not like being critical but I feel obligated to be consistent in reviewing all the stores I go to, even if I do not like them. On one hand, it is a store that offers a good selection of games, RPGs, TCGs, and accessories but on the other hand, I absolutely do not like any of the decor, ideology, or limitations set by staff.

In the effort to be objective, I am going to jump straight into the conclusion/grading and incorporate some of my objections within those boundaries. Additionally, I will link the Los Angeles Times blurb on the store here.

Conclusion/Grading

1. Selection (A)- Geeky Teas has a very good collection of games and breaks games into different sections that will help people find what they are looking for easily. If you need a game, they probably have it.

2. Layout (C+) Right when you walk into the store, you run into a wall and have to turn right or left, both of which lead you to very different sections of the store. As of the date of this review, I was unable to explore the half of the store that was an amazing gaming space because the store requires proof of vaccination and charges $5 to enter. The other half of the store is the retail space. The green paint is not flattering and doesn't fit with any of the wall decor or shelving/display units. Some of the displays themselves felt disorganized, and the British section really felt out of place in a board game store. It was because of this jumbled mess of a layout that I refrained from buying any of the tea/candles/British snacks- each seemed like random hobbies the owners picked up and I didn't trust the quality. If they are great, I am glad and I hope they continue to sell! I simply will refrain from buying groceries at my board game store.

3. Location (B-) Geeky Teas is on a very popular strip just south of Downtown Burbank but it lacks foot traffic. The outside facade doesn't help either with the random tools/equipment and the tired looking Police Box.

While I do not agree with a lot of the choices management has made and continues to support, I have visited the store twice and have purchased a fair amount of products from them. No store is perfect and while I will probably give patronage to other stores in the area moving forward, I will stop by Geeky Teas if I am in a pinch before a game night. Additionally, I did look at their Facebook page and it seemed like a lot of new game space is being added and redone. It looks pretty spacious and would be a great place to play a game if I could.