Atomic Goblin Levels Up Character to Storefront on Main Street

A Quest for More Space in a New Era for Longmont’s Gaming Hub

Photo by Adam Steininger

In the realm of Longmont, there lies a faraway land where geeks and nerds alike may wander through tabletop adventures, braving wild beasts and being bestowed with gallant feasts fit for both noble and humble gamers of all ages and mages.

This hallowed ground is known as Atomic Goblin, and ‘tis no longer on the distant Hover horizon nowadays but has settled upon the nearby road in the concrete forest of Main Street, within a stone’s throw of a taco tavern and a hut that serves pizza.

On a crisp and golden-hued fall Friday evening, the warriors and wizards gathered like fallen leaves drawn to an ancient tree, each figure slipping through the front doors with cloaks whirling, skirts billowing, and whispers of laughter riding the breeze. They filled the great hall, carrying reusable grocery bag satchels woven of humble cotton and rugged polypropylene, filled not only with dried meats and cheese but with dice, maps, and miniature champions painted with careful patience.

Heads held high, these adventurers wore smiles bright as the dawn; laughter rolled like thunder across the tables, breaking the solemn air, as flagons and wineskins of curious elixirs—some as fizzy as Diet Coke and Mountain Dew—clinked and sloshed amongst the provisions of their journey: morsels of candy bars and the sacred corn triangles called Doritos.

And at the heart of this storied kingdom, a man stood, bearing not a crown of gold but a warmth as bright as firelight. Carl Schelin is his name, the innkeeper, the king, the keeper of this haven known to all as Atomic Goblin. He presided over the night’s adventurers with a watchful eye and a welcoming smile, for here, in this realm, all who sought adventure were kinfolk.

Photo by Adam Steininger

This cherished Middle-earth known as Atomic Goblin, a tabletop gaming store, has recently taken a new shape and vision, spearheaded by its current owner, Carl Schelin who plans to make it a regional gaming destination for all. Schelin traced Atomic Goblin’s origins back to Stonebridge Games, a beloved gaming shop on Main Street that opened in 2004.

“Eugene started Stonebridge Games, he was over on Main Street, across from where the guitar store used to be,” Schelin recalled. “James—who would later open Atomic Goblin—worked there, and I’d often stop by after visiting the guitar store across the street.”

In 2012, following the closure of Stonebridge Games, James Smith carried forward its mission. He opened Atomic Goblin on Hover Street, and over the next decade, the store grew into a cornerstone for the local gaming community. One dedicated customer, Schelin, even held the record for the largest purchase—a sign of his long-standing commitment to the store, which would later play a role in its future.

In 2022, Schelin, considering what he would do for his future retirement and a community-focused venture, explored the idea of starting a game café. However, Smith advised against it, noting the challenges of combining gaming with a café environment. Eventually, Smith hinted that if he ever sold the store, Schelin would be his first choice, suggesting Schelin as his preferred successor to take over Atomic Goblin. Then the transition ultimately took place, marking a new chapter for the gaming store.

Since 2022, Schelin has continued to balance his passion for Atomic Goblin with his full-time job as a computer geek—a senior security engineer. Smith, the former owner, remains on board as the store manager, continuing to oversee daily operations.

With a strong background in technology and community building, Schelin was eager to infuse fresh ideas into the store, leveraging his expertise to expand Atomic Goblin’s online presence and attract more gamers.

“My goals are to be a regional destination rather than a mom-and-pop type shop. A mom-and-pop shop is great, don’t get me wrong. James did a great job. He’s done a great job. He’s my store manager now, but that’s kind of the limitation of being a mom-and-pop versus moving into more of a business like this,” Schelin said.

Photo by Adam Steininger

Despite the store’s strong following, the Hover Street location presented challenges in the quest for more space.

“We needed more space. I was looking to replace the old carpet—seven years outdated—and it needed a refresh. I got an estimate, but when I reached out to the landlord for approval, I got ghosted,” Schelin explained.

The lease was set to end in January 2024, and with no response from the landlord, Schelin decided it was time to seek a larger space to expand their reach. Schelin and his team explored multiple locations, including a storefront near Spirit of Halloween on 21^st Avenue and Main Street, but each site had its challenges. After a long search, he found a new location on Main Street—a spot that seemed to mark and fill all the boxes.

“We spent at least a month scouting different places, calling realtors, and checking out spaces. We looked at several options, including one near Five Guys, but we were aiming to keep the space under 3,000 square feet if we could,” Schelin explained. “This new location was a great fit because it offered more visibility, which was important to us.”

At the end of 2023, Schelin and his team began transforming the new Atomic Goblin space. To open up the space, they removed a wall and brought in painters to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere with carefully chosen colors. They also installed a large, eye-catching sign out front, created by Rabbit Hill Graphics, to attract attention.

Despite the challenges, the move went relatively smoothly. Schelin recalled the coldest day of the year in January when the move took place.

“I had to drive down Boulder Canyon in freezing conditions to meet the movers,” Schelin said. “We wrapped up the big displays in plastic and transported them over the weekend. It was a lot of work, but everything went pretty smoothly.”

Photo by Adam Steininger

The new location that opened in mid-January occupies 2,600 square feet of space, more than doubling its previous 1,200-square-foot footprint. This expansion has allowed the store to increase its gaming tables from five to 14 and expand its inventory to fill the additional space.

The result is a new Atomic Goblin that’s larger, more accessible, and ready to host even grander adventures. With additional room for game nights, tournaments, and community events, the store has become a true gathering place for gamers from all around.

“This is great. It’s a fantastic location, and we have a great shop with a lot of great people,” Schelin said.

One of Schelin’s main goals is to position Atomic Goblin as a regional destination for gamers.

“If you game, you’ll know of the big stores— The Haunted Game Café up in Fort Collins, Total Escape Games in Broomfield, and The Wizard’s Chest in Denver, among others. I want us to be associated with those kinds of game stores that gamers know,” Schelin said.

The new location has already attracted new traffic, with some customers dropping in after seeing the store’s sign visible from Main Street or visiting nearby businesses.

“What happens is they come in after ordering a pizza, and it’s like we got 15 minutes to wait for your pizza or whatever. We get people coming from the taco place,” Carl said. “We’ve had record-breaking sales pretty much every single month since the move… This year, we’re still breaking records. It’s all about increasing visibility and getting the word out, especially through social media.”

Schelin attributed much of the success to the store’s growing presence and community engagement, as well as an amazing, knowledgeable, contributing staff, noting that the momentum should continue strong into the new year. With the move complete and the growing range of events, Atomic Goblin continues to build its presence as a hub for Longmont gamers.