TLDR: Fun local place to hang out and play Magic the Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons, pick up a…read moregame of Warhammer, paint some miniatures, have a snack, and chat with some new friends. Weekly board game nights are on Wednesdays, D&D is on Sundays as well as scattered throughout the week, and there are regular Magic tournaments and other events on Fridays and over the weekend. There's a schedule posted by the front door, and regular updates come through on Facebook Messenger.
MENU: Wide variety of trading card games (Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, One Piece, Flesh and Blood, and more), board games, D&D/Pathfinder books, Warhammer, dice out the wazoo, and all the usual things you'll find at a local game store. Prices are comparable to what you would pay online, with the added benefits of being able to see something in person before you buy it, and support your community with your dollar.
FORMAL EVENTS: The main trading card game being played in the store right now is Magic the Gathering. Routine events usually happen on Fridays - sometimes drafts, sometimes two-headed giant, sometimes a pre-release event, and so on. Dungeons and Dragons meets on Sundays, with other days intended for one-shots scattered throughout the week. Occasionally there are scheduled times where folks can paint miniatures together. Board Game Night is on Wednesdays; you can bring your own favorites, or join in a game brought by someone else. (Ask about the Discord group, if you want to plug in to the board game stuff.) If you want to learn about the current schedule, pop in, call the store, or ask on Facebook Messenger via the store's page.
INFORMAL EVENTS: You can pick up a game of Commander most any day of the week. Last I heard, the CEDH experts are meetings on Sunday mornings. If you're interested in learning a new game, or if you want to play a game without a large active player base (Flesh and Blood, Sorcery, One Piece) there's a good chance you can come in and pick up a game with the store owner.
FRONT OF HOUSE SERVICE: My first time visiting the store, I brought my pitiful homemade commander deck, sat down, and got invited to play by a group of guys who had just walked in and didn't know me from Adam. Overall, the staff is friendly and welcoming; they're happy to show you how to play a game, give you some tips to improve your deck, or give you someone to play with if no one else around. The regulars are welcoming and fun to play with. If you're in good luck, you might get ringed up at the register by one of the owner's kids. Shout out to H and A.
COMPETITION: To my knowledge, Uprising is the only game store for miles in any direction. If you're specifically interested in Dungeons and Dragons, my understanding is there's a large group meeting at the Adair County Extension Center, but I've never been there and I'm not familiar with the details - chances are you can pop by and check out a posted schedule or something. Additionally, there's a small group that meets at the Adair County Public Library on the weekends to play some combination of Magic and D&D - if you're interested in that, ask a librarian about meeting times.
ATMOSPHERE: The main store area is pleasant; brightly lit, well decorated, and as comfortable as can be expected. Upstairs is a long table for the D&D nerds. The back rooms can be a little dank and liminal at times. And the bathroom... oh Lord have mercy, the bathroom. That toilet can get a little rowdy sometimes, in more ways than one. (Not the owner's fault.)
