Our Story

In 2009, the Crawford family wanted to offer a bright atmosphere where families and kids would feel just as comfortable as a seasoned gamers, playing all variations of gaming, and build a community center. They wanted everyone who walked through the door to feel as though they had a whole new group of friends, and a safe environment to get to know them. Play, interact, grow… that’s the model. Every decision we’ve made over the years was within the framework of those three words. You need interaction to play and to play you need interaction… but both gain purpose if there’s also growth in everyone involved. Petrie’s continues to expand its growing pool of gamers and their families who want to support the concept of a community center for gaming hobbyists of all ages. With it’s revolutionary volunteer program, Petrie’s Family Games continues to be able to staff large programs and run a wide variety of titles thanks to caring people who simply want to connect with others. Colorado Springs is the perfect venue for this store. The city has long been known as the largest small town. It has a high ratio of families, kids, and hobbyists, perfect to join in on the idea of a community center. Additionally, many of the Crawford’s are native, and Cameron—who was born and raised here—has watched the local gaming culture through its many ups and downs over the past 40 years. “The idea for Petrie’s came during a lunch meeting twenty years ago with some of the established local game clubs,” Cameron said in an interview. “At that time, there was a definite need for a game store on the east side of town. And there was definitely a lack in kid-friendly game rooms.” “For years, the game stores in town had no children’s section to speak of,” he says. “And the stores that did offer children’s products were sorely lacking in games for teens and adults. Why couldn’t a game store be all-inclusive and provide titles for people of all ages? That’s what brought ‘family’ into our name.” And that family grew into a large volunteer team, who help primarily to run special events, making them the single most important component of the store’s mission, since they foster relationships with the community and provide patrons with opportunities to try new games and have different experiences. So who is this “Petrie,” anyway? The name refers to Rob and Laura Petrie, the lead characters on the beloved Dick Van Dyke Show. We want our patrons to feel as comfortable in the store as they would in someone’s family room—and without question, the most friendly and inviting family room in history is the one found in Rob and Laura’s New Rochelle house. It was a place where friends would gather weekly for cards or charades, and that concept has been given a modern spin at Petrie’s Family Games. Everything at Petrie’s has been designed to give everyone—regardless of age, gender, or experience—a fun and enjoyable place to hang out. So from us to you… welcome!