Trading card and board game enthusiast in Yellowknife are about to have another avenue to explore their hobbies!
Coming to the upper level of the Centre Square Mall is Mavinjus Games and Collectables. The store is being run by Yanik and Tammy D’aigle, two lifelong enthusiast of trading cards, board games, model sets, and other hobby activities. Yanik shared the inspiration the couple had in opening this new shop.
“We saw it as a great opportunity to connect back with the community and provide a safe space that people can enjoy games in the classic tradition, but also have a passion for collections. We wanted a space where people can hang out, sometimes crack packs together, break boxes together, and trade cards in a place that they know is a safe spot.”
The name “Mavinjus” may sound strange for most, but it’s very personal to Yanik. Not only did it serve as an old gamertag in online settings such as World of Warcraft, but it is also a fusion of the names of Yanik and Tammy’s three sons, Matthew, Vincent, and Justin. As it turns out, some of the boys are working with their parents to help run the store that (technically) shares their names.
“Our youngest boys are very much involved. They are owners and operators along with us, and they are contributing their time and energy as well in making this successful, their opinions, their thoughts. They’re hugely passionate about Pokémon and collectibles as a whole, and we’re driving that passion as well into the business to help them become young entrepreneurs, and hopefully set them up for success for years to come!”
Yanik explained that the store will be focusing largely on collectables. This includes items such as the more delicate LEGO sets, trading cards for franchises like Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh, and less common board games that might not be found at regular stores. The shop will also be allowing customers to order certain items and have them delivered to the store for pickup.
(Photo by Connor Pitre/True North FM Staff)
The D’aigle’s are also planning on holding special events at the shop. Every Saturday, Mavinjus will be engaging in special item drops in Pokemon Go, and plans are being devised to hold small tournaments in other card games as well.
Mavinjus Games and Collectables will be holding its initial launch event on Saturday, December 21st at 10:00am.
