A brand new bricks-and-mortar store full of retro games, toys and associated merchandise has opened to the public in Brierley Hill, West Midlands. I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of this treasure trove of pop-culture memorabilia and interview the owner (and good friend) Dana Meddings about his plans for Hidden Chest Gaming going forward.
Quite literally hidden away in an unassuming corner of an industrial estate is this absolute gem of a shop. Through the doors and up the stairs you are suddenly transported back in time as you are literally met with walls ram packed with your childhood. These range from action figures to board games, Dungeons and Dragons to Super Nintendo, VHS tapes to Funko-Pops, it is all here.
The pop-culture overload you experience when you enter Hidden Chest Gaming doesn’t stop with the massive variety of items on display. You will also hear the sounds of your childhood too, eminating from the classic videos being played on the massive TV or from the games consoles set up for play. I can’t wait to revisit – only next time I will be taking the kids along too – I just know they will absolutely love this place!
Opening Hours: Friday 12:00 – 18:00, Saturday 12:00 – 18:00
Address: Unit A, Wedgbury Way, Brierley Hill DY5 3JU
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiddenChestGaming
Interview with Dana Meddings – Proprietor, Hidden Chest Gaming
So what made you want to open a gaming store?
Honestly I don’t know, I must be bonkers. In all seriousness it just all fell into place at the right time for me and seems a natural progression for me after selling at the events for years and not being able to take all the stock to them (not that I can fit it all in the shop either). It’s better here on display to the public than locked away in storage between events.
How did you come about the name?
Well this one comes from selling at events. Especially in the early days you could find the most random and rare stuff on my stall. And the old saying goes it was a aladdins cave so with that I tried to relate it to gaming and everybody knows the best stuff in any game is found in a Hidden Chest, right?
I know that you have a collection of your own, so how hard do you find selling stuff you’d love to keep?
Really hard. I mean look the perk of having a shop is I can add stuff to my collection sure. But yeah letting go and not collecting more is hard Especially when it comes to toys I had as a kid, the way I deal with it is while it’s still in the shop it is mine and in my collection and I can enjoy it till its sold. If its sold.
If you could choose anyone on Earth to walk through your doors for a browse, who would it be?
Hmm this is a tough one like I could think of a ton of female celebs I’d more than welcome. But maybe some like Jordan from toy hunter the TV show who would hopefully enjoy the wide rage of stock also the guys from Leicester Vintage Toys Shop – they do some great tours. But honestly, it’s great having people here all with smiles on there face remembering their childhood and showing their children too.
What is your favourite item in the shop?
Oh man that’s a good one. I could change my mind on the hour depending what I see when looking around. But right now its Mattels and Super 7 re-imagining of the MASTERS of the Universe figures. They just look amazing and I’m tempted to keep a skeletor for myself.
With the gaming stuff it’s hard ’cause the stuff I really like never makes it to the shelves – sorry guys!
What further plans do you have for Hidden Chest Gaming?
Who knows? I’m never one to plan or have visions, I just do things. Events – we will be at more of those. Including Doncaster this Feb and the NEC in March. And hopefully shop will go from strength to strength. Of course like Pinky and the Brain me ‘n Liam will constantly be trying to take over the world. But again seriously it’s been a rubbish couple of years for everyone and it’s great seeing people come on and leave with a smile on their face having seen stuff from their youth and simpler times, often showing their kids too.