Griffon Bookstore

Griffon Books and Games is a one-of-a-kind destination for book lovers, gamers, and enthusiasts of all ages. Located in the heart of South Bend, Indiana, our store boasts over 4,000 square feet of space dedicated to an eclectic assortment of books, games, records, audio and video tapes, gift items, puzzles, curios, and miniature supplies.

A Brief History

The Griffon Bookstore was founded in 1976 by Sarah Bird and Ken Peczkowski, and has since become a staple in the community. In 2022, a freelance newspaper researcher from New Jersey wrote that the Griffon is the oldest independent game store in the USA. We take pride in our rich history and continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of our customers.

Our Services

At Griffon Books and Games, we offer a wide range of services to cater to our diverse customer base. From traditional card games to modern tabletop RPGs, our game room is the perfect place to gather with friends and like-minded individuals. We host regular game nights, tournaments, and events, making it an ideal spot for socializing and having fun. Our knowledgeable staff is always happy to help you find the perfect game or book, and we offer a relaxing atmosphere with free in-store Wi-Fi.

Dice Sets & Card Games

The Griffon features an extensive selection of gaming dice in sets, singles, and custom-made dice/token bags. We also carry a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional card games from around the world, as well as card supplies such as card shufflers, card shoes, card holders, card trays, and storage boxes. If you're interested in Tarot cards, we have a large selection to choose from.

Traditional Gaming

For the traditional strategy gamer, we carry a range of chess sets, boards, and accessories, including chess clocks. We also stock classic Asian strategy games like Go, Shogi, Chinese Elephant Chess, Mahjong, and Ti-chu in various sizes and styles. Additionally, you'll find Cribbage boards and domino sets in our store.

Miniature Supplies

Miniature modelers, gamers, and diorama makers will find a treasure trove of supplies in our store. We carry terrain-making supplies, ready-made scenery, miniature making tools, and acrylic paint colors from Vallejo. You'll also find a wide variety of modeler paint brushes, glues, and mini rare earth magnets for pinning projects.

Books

Our new and used book selections are carefully curated to cover classical literature and poetry, classic and medieval history, philosophy and theology, foreign languages, science fiction, mysteries and thrillers, and military history. We also have a bargain basement book rack with assorted books at affordable prices. In 2023, we added a new aisle of young adult and children's books and games at super affordable prices.

Curios

One of the unique aspects of Griffon Books and Games is our collection of one-of-a-kind trinkets, artifacts, and souvenirs. You might find WWII military uniforms and medals, newspapers from the 19th century, books from the 17th century, or other rare and fascinating items.

Game Rooms

Our game rooms have been a hub of activity for 48 years, hosting countless RPG games, card games, miniatures games, chess tournaments, and board games. The newly remodeled rooms can accommodate over 50 players, making it the perfect spot for large groups.

Engraving Services

We offer engraving services for game designers, including Griffon-branded and gamer-art laser-etched dice trays, key chains, coasters, and small game pieces. Many items are available in-store for customization.