If you love playing games and live in Yelm, prepare to be excited. Yelm is getting a new tabletop RPG and TCG gaming store, ran by locals who love gaming. Ecky’s Cards & Games, owned by husband-and-wife duo Christopher and Elizabeth Ecklund, is set to open early November 2025.
Meet The Ecklunds, Owners of a New Gaming Store in Yelm
Serving others has been in the forefront of the Ecklunds’ careers. Christopher spent 30 years in active duty service with the Army. After retirement, he began working as a physician assistant in the veteran community.
Elizabeth is a registered nurse, an IFSAC II firefighter and recently received her Master of Social Work. She owns Mind Forge Therapy Group, an organization that specializes in adult mental health services for first responders, law enforcement and healthcare workers. She operates as a psychotherapist for Mind Forge.
They both spent last winter in Antarctica, Elizabeth as an airport rescue firefighter and nurse, and Christopher as a physician assistant for the National Science Foundation.
Recently, they have turned their sights on a new avenue of service: serving the Yelm gaming community by providing a safe, friendly environment for game play. “Chris has wanted to open a game store for many years now,” shares Elizabeth on why they chose to open a gaming store. “He has been saving and working to be able to create the perfect community game store, something to be a pinnacle for the community and provide a clean and safe gaming environment.”
While picking a favorite game is difficult, they said they love role-playing games, including Dungeons & Dragons.
The store started as an online shop. Over the past three years, the couple has worked hard behind the scenes, talking to other gaming store owners and attending conventions like GenCon in Indianapolis, to learn all they can about the industry.
Elizabeth says they are still working hard on all the challenges that come with moving from online to a physical gaming store in Yelm. “Several items have to be in store to show to distributors in order to request specific games and supplies.” She explains. “There is a lot of learning involved and a lot of decisions to be made. Both of us work, so we also have to coordinate appointments around our already packed schedules.”
And now, they are (almost) ready to open their doors and share with you a mix of the latest games, old favorites and locally-made items.
Ecky’s Cards & Games in Yelm Offers TCG, RPG and More
Named after their last name and the nickname Christopher was given in the military, Ecky’s Cards & Games in Yelm will carry Games Workshop titles such as Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar and Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game. They will also carry the popular Star Wars Legion, Star Wars Shatterpoint and Marvel Crisis Protocol games. “We are looking at carrying some other games like Fallout Factions, Warcrow and HALO flashpoint,” adds Elizabeth. “If there is a community for a game, we will try and stock it. We welcome community input and want to provide what our local community enjoys.”
TCG – trading card games – are more popular than ever and Ecky’s Cards & Games will have all your favorites, including Pokémon, Magic The Gathering, Flesh and Blood, Star Wars Unlimited and Riftbound.
Along with popular games, Elizabeth has been busy talking to local makers and artists to make sure their gaming store has Yelm flavor. “Ecky’s will also feature exclusive game items and items created especially for the store through local partnerships with Pacific Northwest artists and local vendors,” she adds. “There will be a community corner for these specific items. [We are] using local vendors and companies to create a welcoming and cool boutique vibe that also appeals to people who may not have been in a game store previously.”
The Yelm gaming store will also have plenty of room for tabletop gaming and a separate, private game room for role-playing games. “Several RPG (Role Playing Games) can be more enjoyable when held in a dedicated area away from the hustle and sound of other games,” says Elizabeth.
Ecky’s Cards & Comics will offer discounts to military, first responders and healthcare providers. “Being a part of the community is a large part of what we look forward to,” they share.
The grand opening is scheduled for November 1, 2025, but follow them on Facebook for updates.
Ecky’s Cards & Comics
1202 E Yelm Avenue, Ste C, Yelm
