The Sentry Box is a family store through and through. Gord has been running it since 1980! It wasn’t always this big, in fact the same year his eldest daughter was born he began construction on the location you know and love today. Bronwyn grew up in the store, reading in corners and sorting dice by colour until she was legally allowed to run the till. Now she works to keep the magic alive, learning the spells from the level 70 DM. They are supported by an amazing team of experts in all things nerdy, most of whom are like family, even the second generation of experts have been with us over 18 years. It takes a village to keep on top of all the game systems. Luckily we are dealing in fun.
For 45 years we have striven to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all people who share in our love of games. We have had the pleasure of watching the gaming industry grow and change to have become the mainstream hobby that it is today. We are committed to making gaming accessible to everyone. We offer demo games, terrain, maps and gaming space for free to make sure that is the case. Most of our space is first come first serve. Due to our growing community we have some tables that can be booked for ease of planning.
We are a dog friendly store as long as your pooch is leashed, well behaved and friendly. For those of you without pets Arri is sometimes around the till and happy to say hi to new friends. Please just ask first!
We are known on the street for being the dragon store…which is an apt title. There are over 10 dragons… this hasn’t always been the case. To see our journey on an in-depth level - check out the documentary that was made about us!
Don’t have an hour but still want to get the vibe? This blast from the past mini documentary is only 5 minutes. A month after Bronwyn finished this documentary board games and miniatures traded spots. Any media is outdated in moments due to our constant strive to give you a better game store.
For a different perspective on the store check out LLOYD THE CONQUEROR where we played a different game store…the century box, complete with a 6’4 owner. Gord couldn’t relate for some reason….
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1675439/
The Timeline
1978 - Gordon begins dealing in games out
of the trunk of his car, after he went to the aptly named Origins 78 convention
and met a distributor. Thus began the ever-mobile T.D. Imports. He was able to
sell games to the local gaming group and his friends and get cheap games for
himself. What could be better?
Jan 1,
1980 – Gordon opened
for business as the Sentry Box on the corner of Kensington Road and Crowchild
trail. With only 450 square feet, Gord made the decision in the first month to
stop selling plastic models and dedicate the space entirely to board games,
military simulations and the burgeoning role-playing games. The floors begin to
bend under the weight of the games…
1982 – Gord moves to a larger space of
1400 square feet. He continues to operate the wholesale in the back of the
building and the retail in the front of the building. This is also when the
science fiction and fantasy bookstore became an iconic element to the store.
1985 – Gord jumps on the opportunity to
move into commercial property and buys the building on 20th street and
34th avenue. The wholesale needs to move out of the building to make
way for the growing game community.
1992 – T. D. Imports becomes Canada’s longest
running game distributor and is divested to his business partner Ross.
1994 – Gord makes the great leap to 13
000 square feet becoming The World’s Largest Game store for 30 years. When he
bought the building it was nothing but cement floors, brick walls and tin roof.
He juggled a new baby and coordinated the construction of the layout you see
today.
2010 – City construction work on 10th
avenue and 14th street causes a huge sewage flood causing $250 000
in damages in the back areas of the store.
2011 – Steve Jackson Games (creators of
munchkin and GURPS) names The Sentry Box as International Store of the Month
2012 – Sunalta train station opens 2
blocks away, Calgary’s only elevated train station. We are still trying to get
permits for a giant dragon on the roof.
2013 – GAMA Power Retail awards recognize
the Sentry Box for “Outstanding Store” and “Outstanding Store Design”
June 2013 – Calgary and surrounding area face
catastrophic floods shutting the city down. The store managed to escape any
physical damage but did have an unscheduled shut down for 1 day. The first and only time in history.
2018 – Divestment of Collectable Card
Games. This section now operates as entirely sperate business currently known
as Sentry Box Cards on the north side of the building.
2020 – While Covid-19 was challenging
for retailers, Gord took the opportunity to invest in the infrastructure of the
store. Upgrading the lighting to LEDs, upgrading the look of the after-hours
room, remodeling the existing customer bathroom and adding a second bathroom with
a change table!
2022 – Garry Snow set out to make a documentary
about friendly local game stores. Upon starting his interviews, he realized how
much story there was to tell here. It chronicles the store’s history, Cam’s
impact on its design over the years and its impact on Calgarians.
Fittingly it premiered at Calgary’s Underground Film Festival
2023 – Film workers go on strike, giving
Bronwyn time to focus on the business and learn the secrets.
2025 – Gord commits on the 45th
anniversary that he will stick around until he hits 50 years in business. The
front vestibule gets a complete rebuild and remodel. Bronwyn throws the
first annual Sentry Box Artisan Bazaar partnering with local artists for
a fun weekend event.