Blue Ox Games

Greenville's big east-side game hub for Pokemon, Magic and One Piece players, with open tables, scheduled TCG events and a comics room to hang out in.

Blue Ox Games is the kind of store where the cardboard gets played, not just bought. The shop on East 10th Street runs a large retail floor of roughly 5,000 square feet, and much of it is given over to tables for trading card games, miniatures and board games. If you are looking for a Greenville card shop with room to sit down and actually shuffle up, this is the obvious first stop.

Trading card games sit at the center of the inventory. Visitors describe it as a one-stop shop for Magic: The Gathering and Pokemon, along with newer games such as One Piece as they arrive, and Yu-Gi-Oh! is part of the lineup too. Beyond cards, the shelves carry board games, miniatures and hobby supplies, and a dedicated comic room offers seating plus a free pull-list service with books bagged and boarded at no extra charge.

The community side is what reviewers tend to mention first. Staff get credit for being friendly and helpful with recommendations, and one visitor called it the best first experience they had ever had at a card shop, which matters if you are new to a game or buying a gift. The store posts its scheduled events on an online calendar, and it also invites walk-in play with a friend or a staff member, so it is worth checking that calendar before you go if you want a tournament seat or a quieter table.

Timing your trip is easy once you know the rhythm. Listed hours run 2PM to 10PM on weekdays, 11AM to 8PM on Saturday and noon to 6PM on Sunday, so weekday evenings are the long window for play, while Saturday is the best bet for a daytime browse. The store's own website has shown a different weekday schedule, so call 252-695-6442 before a special trip. Anyone shopping for Pokemon cards Greenville side will find the East 10th Street location a short drive from the East Carolina University area.