Great place, the coast side needs more comics and card stores! Glad one is still hanging aroundread more

this is my new favorite game shop in the whole bay area and I've seen a ton. very diverse selection…read moreand very knowledgeable and passionate staff. A+

Love this place. I always prefer shopping here whenever I…read morecan. Support local! Games store for gamers :)

This place is absolutely fantastic and gives me major nostalgic vibes the moment I walk in. It's a…read moresmall corner video game store packed from floor to ceiling with all kinds of goodies. Everything is priced very fairly and competitive with mainstream retailers, online platforms, and even other retro game shops. They do it all here: retro and new video games, consoles, trading cards, plushies, accessories, and more. I feel truly lucky to have found this spot. It's officially my new go-to for anything gaming-related, whether I need something ASAP, want to get a game disc resurfaced, or just want to pop in and see what's new. Their backroom looks like it's bursting with even more treasures and I'm excited to see how they grow over time. I wish San Francisco had more places like this because the city is really lacking when it comes to true video game stores. We don't even have a Gamestop anymore in the heart of the city. The closest video game store is in Stonestown, which can be very inconvenient to get to. They also have some awesome free-to-play arcade setups and welcome people to just hang out inside, which gives the place a really laid-back, community vibe. If you're looking for a specific game or system and they don't have it, they'll even take your number and give you a call once they track it down. Such a thoughtful touch. I especially love their preowned deals like the buy two, get one free promo for games priced $11.99 or less. I can't wait to come back for my next haul.

If you like anime blind boxes, figures, Gundam, and plushies this place will be heaven! The store…read moreis on the smaller side but still stuffed to the brim with so much merchandise. They had a lot of popular series such as: Hunter x Hunter, Sakamoto Days, Dan Dan Dan, Haikyu, Blue Lock etc. I got two Sakamoto Days blind boxes and they were $11-$13 each which I expected. They have a lot of tsum tsums and small figures in the blind boxes. Also +1000 stars for having Ace Attorney displayed on their return policy! I suspect I will be dropping a lot of money over the months at this store. I really like cute blind boxes and they had a lot of them that I would have been happy with getting any of the choices on the box!

I'm here to give a shout out to Akiba HQ for bringing an interesting store to downtown San Mateo…read morethat isnt another boba tea shop or noodle restaurant. They've been open since the summer, but I don't I notice them getting much foot traffic, probably due to lack of visibility, parking, or publicity. Tucked along 3rd Ave & Railroad Ave, fans of Japanese anime, gundam, manga, die cast, models, and figurines will find their heavenly spot. This store is jam packed with lots of toys & collectibles & cute display figures, ranging from robots, to monsters to buxom Japanese girls reminiscent of the Akihabara prefecture in downtown Tokyo. They have pre-made figurines, build & paint yourself models, plushies, cards, charms, candies, and keychains. They also sell the necessary quality paints, brushes, and tools to build & perfect your own models. The layout of the store is nice, with one side holding most of the kits available, alongside with nice displays of accessories, toys, model building supplies, a counter, and candy & souvenirs. The other side of the store is like a Japanese anime/manga museum & display! It is one continuous LONG showcase that is well lit, clean, and organized, if some of the most amazing figurines thst you can build (and/or buy). Lots of eye candy here thst I cannot even describe in words, so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. This store is fun, whether you are into collecting, building, or, just like me, browsing, learning, and gawking. Some reminded me of my childhood watching action cartoons & reading comic books. Others just wowed me with their attention to detail, design, and colors. It is indeed like a candy store here, but the candy is Japanese figurines. I plan to go back soon to buy some kits to see if I can recall & relive my childhood and build up some nice models. Downtown San Mateo is having some sort of retail resurgence for stores other than food or drink, and Akiba HQ, alongside with Nakoko, Clawsome, and Fanloli are leading the charge. With the departure of Talbots and B Street Books, it's nice to have another type of retail store here to browse, shop, and relive memories (or make new ones) in between dinner, movies, and bar hopping. Akiba HQ also has locations in Hayward & Davis, but we are lucky to get one here in San Mateo! Now, you don't have to go to Japantown or Tokyo to get your figurine fix, it's literally right here all in one, tiny, jam-packed store!

Place is a little hard to find at first because there was a huge truck blocking the store front…read more It's located in the area where other offices and warehouse companies are located too. Once you see the anime posters out front you'd know ur in the right place. Service is helpful and informative. Many items to see! There are Gachapon items that you can select characters and huge selection of Gundams and action figures from various anime characters.

For all the anime fans out there yes, please check them out! Was there recently around black friday…read moreand was able to pick up some goods on sale and for xmas gifting. Awesomesauce!!! Love a good deal. There's not too many of these stores around so go support them if you can to keep anime alive :) Store is not big more like small warehouse setting. Can get crowded, if folks are hovering over a certain section, you gotta wait till they're done. Staff is friendly and plenty parking in lot.

Store was not opened at 4:15pm on a Thursday afternoon. Online it said it was open…read moreThere was a worker inside and was on headphones counting money There are no hours posted on the doors and the worker didn't even bother to come talk with a potential consumer and customer. Poor staff and looks like it's ready to shut down already

Seriously what's going on with this store?? It's at least 70% merchandise now with very little…read morefloor space devoted to video games. In fact only the left wall and a tiny section in front of the front counter are actual video games. Everything else is merchandise! I don't know if they're getting ready to close or what but don't expect to find what you're looking for PS5, Xbox and PS4 are tiny. Hillsdale and Colma are far superior.

The size of Amoeba overwhelmed me, but positively. This place was easily way bigger than my local…read morerecord shop, let alone any record shop I've been to in the past. Amoeba offers a VAST collection of vinyls, DVDs, CDs, stickers, and magnets. My partner and I collect vinyls, and we didn't leave disappointed.

I still remember when this location was Park Bowl, but that was (gasp) over thirty years ago when…read morebowling was still a popular social activity. I myself was on a bowling team named the Orient Express, and I wish I still had my red team shirt with the dragon on the back. But I digress as this has been an independent record store since 1997, an offshoot of the Berkeley store on Telegraph. Digital downloads be damned, this shop is focused on physical media...CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes, Blu-rays, and of course, vinyl. Even before picking up spares at Park Bowl, I recall that moment in my youth when I made the monumental decision to switch my record purchases from vinyl to CDs. Nowadays, vinyl is making a comeback among a younger generation looking for a higher quality, more realistic sound quality. I saw these Gen Z audiophiles flipping through the long LP bins in search of the elusive underground classic their stereophonic friends could appreciate and envy. Personally I could find nuggets of my own. Albums like The Very Best of Spike Jones (Photo 10) and The Complete 2,000 Year Old Man (Photo 5) resonated with me. I was happy to see individual LPs consolidated into boxed sets like the Linda Ronstadt retrospective. Beyond the music is the expansive DVD collection of movie titles both classic and obscure. There's also books and collectible merchandise like pop-culture lunch boxes and celebrity prayer candles. I'm not sure I need a candle that deifies Aubrey Plaza, but it's good to know where I can get one. RELATED - Exploring the Haight? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/Mq6DbbrGGJ

I went here today without any expectations, while the reviews are great, I am a bit wary since its…read morea second hand store. But upon getting inside the store, it is very organized and clean, if you need to buy something it is easy to find as the store is small. During my turn, James helped me with the items I intend to let go. He was clear in his explanation and very detailed in answering questions. The offer they gave me is fair and transaction is straightforward. We're excited to go back to buy video games with them. I hope they become a fixed institution in Dublin.

Service I saw Wyatt who helped me and waited with me close…read moreto closing to sell my iPhone. He was helpful, patient, and nice to talk to. Ambiance This location is def more spacious than the one in South SF and I was able to sit down with my laptop and finish last transfer of info for my phone before wiping and selling it off. Value The amount I received was same estimated value as what it was from the South SF location Verdict I'd come here again to sell other stuff instead of using fb marketplace and eBay if it's too much trouble to handle the back and broke online, great alternative.

Hands down one of the best card shop in the Bay Area. They have plenty of singles, sealed, slabs,…read moreand even bulk. Employees are helpful and knowledgeable even when there's an influx of customers. Trades are done quickly and accurately. Good value on single cards and packs for the most part! Definitely check and do your research to make sure you're getting a good deal. A lot of the employees are better at customer service than a lot of card shops in the Bay Area. Would love to see more Japanese sealed product available too! A variety of different TCGs available along with accessories and merch! They also have a variety of video games along with consoles available for trade and purchase!

I had a pretty frustrating experience at GameTime Hobby Shop. I came in to trade some Pokémon cards…read morefor store credit so I could pick up an F1 Topps hobby box. When I first walked in, the box was clearly marked at $359.99. I went to the counter, and to be fair, the employee was helpful and gave me a reasonable offer of $365 in store credit, which I agreed to. No issues there. But when we walked over to grab the hobby box, the price had suddenly jumped to $510.99. That's a huge difference, and it happened while I was literally in the store. When I pointed it out, I was told they were "updating prices" and that they could only honor the original price if I had taken a picture of it. That's not how you run a business. Changing prices during store hours--especially while a customer is actively making a purchase--is unprofessional and unfair. Expecting customers to take pictures of price tags just in case they change minutes later is ridiculous. I understand prices fluctuate, especially in collectibles, but updates like that should be handled before opening or after closing--not in the middle of a transaction. This experience left a bad impression, and I'd be cautious about doing business here again.