It’s been six months since I graduated from college and there are times I miss being a student. Having Sunday relaxing days while I study for an exam or getting coffee and walking around town. One college memory that has stayed with me is my gaming marathons at my college game store River Quest Games. Unfortunately, I was alerted by a Facebook status that River Quest would be closing its doors permanently, and hearing this news left me feeling sad and nostalgic. I wanted to reflect on how much River Quest meant to me.

I started attending River Quest two years ago after my best friend got a job there. I was pleasantly surprised by all the employees who were nice and relaxed. The owner does a great job of creating an accepting environment for all gamers. I also learned how to play Star Wars Destiny at a pre-release event River Quest hosted.

As a broke college student, I never felt pressure to buy anything. I wish I could have supported River Quest more, but going to college is expensive and I was often living paycheck to paycheck. I drove to River Quest two weeks ago and I was surprised by how there weren’t as many people in the store. It made me sad to see that there were fewer people gaming.

I’m thankful for Riverquest and how I could hang out with friends, play Magic or the occasional board game and unwind after a tough week. One message I want to reiterate is to support your local game store! I wish I could have supported River Quest more to prevent them from closing its doors. Local gaming stores need your business. Plenty of customers will buy from Amazon or Target, but to get the absolute best customer service, it’s best to shop local.