Given the number of new places to eat and drink on Telegraph Ave. — not to mention the billions made each year in video games — it might be easy to overlook Temescal's It’s Your Move Games & Hobbies. But for those in the know, the shop is a place to gather, play, make art, or just hang out.
The space advertises as ‘ Locally Owned - Gamer Operated,’ a philosophy that carries over to its business model. “We’ve got two owners and a million volunteers,” said Chris Specker, who co-owns the store with partner Will Kreber.
During our visit, Specker seemed to know each customer's complete biography as soon as they came through the door, greeting many by name.
“Over time, we’ve become more of a community space and less of a retail space,” said Specker.
The store hosts evening events with local game designers, comedy nights, political meetings, and also serves as a gathering space for many local gaming clubs. Recently, a children's Dungeons and Dragons workshop met up front while members of the Oakland chapter of the North American Scrabble Players Association (NASPA) competed in a different area.
“Any of the games we sell you could go on Amazon and save three bucks,” said Specker. The mission is to provide an inclusive community resource where everyone can feel welcome. “We don’t turn people away for lack of funds,” she said.
Many people have received their first work experience at the store; some employees were childhood customers who later joined the staff; a few even started businesses running game workshops.
“It’s something we’re proud of,” Specker said. “There are very few places that will take in ten-year-olds and give them something useful to do.”
For decades, Oakland's NASPA chapter traveled from restaurant to restaurant for meetups before finding It’s Your Move.
Now every odd Saturday of the month, "from 1 'til whenever," said chapter organizer Cynthia Pughsley, they strategize over triple-letter scores in the back of the store.
Pughsley rotates the board for her turn at the letters, a Scrabble dictionary within easy reach. She gives a low grunt, disappointed with the prospects.
“Looks like I gotta go fishing,” she said, using the term for when a player gives up a mediocre letter in the hopes that what comes next will be better.
It’s not a tactic she wants to return to when it comes to finding a home for her club.
“It’s nice to have your own space,” said Pughsley. “I don’t think we’d be able to find another place where they wouldn’t charge us an arm and a leg to be in the spot.”
It's Your Move (510-547-4386) is located at 4920 Telegraph Ave. and is open from 11–7 Tuesday to Friday, and from 10–7 on weekends, closed Mondays. Its web site maintains a list of weekly events.
