Hello Jackson: Nerdvana
Some of my fondest memories of growing up are from playing video games with my granddad and my cousins. I was the kid who cheated by holding the Duck Hunt controller right up next to the screen! I know many other people have grown up around video games, and some, like my husband, continue to enjoy playing. Even Frank Underwood, leading man on House of Cards, enjoys playing Playstation! Luckily there’s an awesome local business that serves the needs of Jackson gamers: Nerdvana.
Nerdvana sells video games, board games, and trading card games. They offer games for everything from the original Nintendo Entertainment System to the newest consoles such as Playstation 4, XBox One, and WiiU. All games and consoles are used but are inspected and tested before being sold, and everything comes with a thirty-day warranty. They also have a group of regular Magic players and carry a huge selection of Magic trading cards, which is something they are known for. Tracie Simer, who owns the store with her husband Paul, says, “We have a little bit of everything a gamer could want!” Another service that Nerdvana offers is repairing broken iPhone screens, which judging by my many of my friends’ phones is a very in-demand service.
The Simers bought Nerdvana from the previous owner in 2011. The store started in south Jackson and has been at the Emporium Drive location since 2010. After purchasing the business, Paul and Tracie expanded the video game inventory, spruced up the interior of the store, and created a play space in the back while adding more shelf space in the front. “[Nerdvana is] the only place in Jackson to get good used video games and consoles for the older generations of Nintendo, Sega, XBox, etc,” Tracie says. Their prices are very reasonable, and it's are a nice, clean space for people to hang out, play games, and have fun!
I always ask for final comments from business owners, and I love the way Tracie describes the store:
“We think our store is pretty unique. Don’t let the name dissuade you from stopping in and checking us out. Our shirts say ‘Nerd Pride’ for a reason. Being a nerd is nothing to be ashamed of. We’re quite proud of our nerdiness! (A nerd is anyone who has a true passion and knowledge for a particular topic or hobby, which is most of us, right?) We have a diverse community of nerds who shop and play here all the time. We think that makes us quite unique.”
I just love that! So next time you’re looking for a new-to-you game to try out, stop in Nerdvana. You may even stumble upon a new favorite!
Nerdvana is located at 1923 Emporium Drive and is open seven days a week. Check hours and keep up to date on specials by visiting their website and liking their Facebook page.
Kristi Woody is a photographer and storyteller for our Hello Jackson features about locally owned retail stores and restaurants. She also works as the university photographer for Union University and owns her own wedding photography business, Woody & Pearl Photography. In her free time, Kristi enjoys spending time with her husband and rambunctious beagle, Rhett and Chipper respectively. If you can't find Kristi in Jackson, you'll find her in her second favorite place: Disney World!
