By now, you may have seen the rumor that The Compleat Strategist will be closing its King of Prussia store. While management was still discussing the matter and considering how best to notify our friends and customers, a draft flyer leaked onto the internet. While this prevented us from managing the release of this information more professionally, we must march forward.
After over 45 years of continuous operation serving gamers and game lovers in the Philadelphia area, The Compleat Strategist store in King of Prussia, PA will be closing permanently on April 25, 2026. In the coming days, we’ll post the dates and details about our upcoming clearance sale that will be taking place at that location only.
We had a great time gaming with everyone who supported the store in PA, and we hope we have left everyone with fond memories.
You may have also heard our legendary New York headquarters at 11 East 33rd Street is closing as well. This one was just the rumor mill, at least for now. As it stands, we have not determined when or if the New York City location will be closing, and it will remain open beyond the closing date of the PA store on April 25th.
With plans for the future of the NYC store still taking shape, we are unable to give you concrete information about if and when the store will be closing. We can only say that continuing to shop with us until that day comes is the best way to show your love and support for the store. While waiting for a clearance sale may seem like the strategic move, we hope you’ll continue to shop at The Compleat Strategist until you receive word regarding official plans to close our headquarters.
The Compleat Strategist opened its doors in 1975. We were here for the birth of Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer, Magic: The Gathering, and virtually every modern tabletop game played today. We have shared the growth of the hobby with creators, publishers, distributors, and players. We were here with our fellow New Yorkers through 9/11 and through COVID-19, and our customers have supported us through the upheaval in our industry from the advent of online shopping to the more recent turmoil in international trade and shipping. We have had the privilege of serving not only the tri-state area's amazing gamers, but also customers from around the world, and we have always remained a family owned business.
Since that family first started putting games on shelves over fifty years ago, we are coming to the end of the journey, but any gamer can tell you that endings are also new beginnings.
We hope you’ll take a chance to visit The Compleat Strategist PA before it closes on April 25, and we hope you’ll continue to support The Compleat Strategist NYC while we finalize plans for the future.
Until then, thank you for your love and support, and… did you Strat today?
12 comments
I have tons of fond memories at the Strategist and have been going there for years, even started taking my little girl there to see what interested her. Incredibly sad to see this staple closing its doors. It was part of my “rotation” when I needed somewhere to go to feel a modicum of joy somewhere.
So long and thanks for all the fish. 😢
Your Alexandria, VA store was my happy place for my childhood and I was devastated when it closed. I hope you can find a way to preserve this last precious gem of a store.
I visited the store the last time I went to NYC, almost 14 years ago, and I still recommend it to people of my country that go visit NYC. It was a place filled with wonders that many of us when we were kids that lived in far away countries were only able to see in the few gaming magazines we were able to get.
It will be terrible news to know you close forever, but I understand the world and the realities of the gaming world have changed. I wanted to go with my kid one day, but it’ll be a while for us to be able to travel to the USA in a family trip.
Sad news, even though I no longer live close enough to visit. Last I was there was after Howard’s funeral. Philadelphia gaming just keeps taking losses this year.
You were the first place I got dice and games and gaming books and fell in love with gaming on a larger scale. You are beloved.