Owner of The Eldritch Bazaar helps foster community for all in Columbiana County
The owner of Columbiana County one-stop shop for all tabletop gaming needs that prioritizes bringing community members together in a low-stakes and inclusive environment.
Brian Frederick started The Eldritch Bazaar as a gaming club back in 2022 and opened the brick-and-mortar store in June 2023 in Columbiana.
“My business was founded on the principle that anybody should be allowed to game, regardless of restrictions or problems they have with socializing,” Frederick said. “As someone who’s on the spectrum with level two autism, I find social interaction very difficult on a digital medium, whereas in person, it’s a lot easier.”
The 25-year-old business owner started tabletop gaming when he was nine years old.
“I make it a fundamental principle of my business, that if someone is unsure how to approach a hobby or a game or otherwise, I am here to play as that medium to translate in that sense. I’m making sure that anybody and everybody who is curious but shy about it can come in and feel welcomed and engaged with the community,” he said.
The Eldritch Bazaar hosts recurring events for tabletop gaming enthusiasts, including Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons and Pokémon game nights, plus open board game nights and figure painting sessions.
“There’s not a lot of places people are allowed to just exist; it’s almost socially inherent that you need to spend money to go out,” Frederick said. “A lot of our events are free. Yes, you want to bring your own things that you already own to engage more effectively, but you’re not required to pay a dime to just hang out. We have an entire public library and board game section that’s completely free to use here at the shop for that reason.”
Visit The Eldritch Bazaar from 4 - 9 p.m. on Monday, 2 - 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, noon - 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and noon - 6 p.m. on Sunday at 8F South Main St. in Columbiana.
“The gaming community is more expansive than just gaming. Warhammer, for example, has 142 odd years worth of literature and thousands upon thousands of miniatures you can build and paint, similar to model trains and planes. I love the fact that the gaming community isn’t just for gaming with Warhammer,” Frederick said. “It’s a wonderful creative outlet.”
