Gamers Heaven is a home for all Gamers, Nerds and Otaku.
Our goal is to help you open and operate your own Gamers Heaven, creating a community, developing members and regular guests so quickly that you don’t have time to sit down and play games in your lounge.
Why own a Gamers Heaven?
Dream it.
Create a local safe space for Gamers, Nerds, and Otaku of all ages – relax, rent gaming spaces, sell Boba/Bubble Tea, Ramen and other Asian ready to eat foods, and much more. Embrace the brand and the fantasy – you bring the dream, we provide the details and the members of your Gamers Heaven will enjoy the experience.
Build it.
Open territory offers an opportunity to grow with our brand from the start. We are poised to bring the experience of Akihabara Japan to the US – creating a Gamers Heaven in each community.
Grow it.
There is nothing like this in the country and we are ready to grow! We have a growing fanbase who are all ready to join Gamers Heaven. Help create a new cultural hub and home for Gamers, Nerds, and Otaku in your local area.
We are NOT a Card Shop, LAN Center, TableTop Store, BarCade, Anime Store, etc.
If you are looking to open a simple game stop, card store, LAN center, or any of the traditional places that have existed before, Gamers Heaven is not for you. But if you are looking to join a group of individuals who are looking to create a truly unique space for Gaming, Anime, Nerd, and Otaku community Inquire Today!
Meet Our Founder
In west Philadelphia, born and raised, in front of the Nintendo was where he spent most of his days…grew up Andrew Hwang. Falling in love with gaming, anime, comics and was disappointed to find that there wasn’t really a place he could share this with other people. There was the occasional convention or tournament he could go to, but no real one location.
During his years in college at the University of Pittsburgh, Andrew had the opportunity to spend time overseas in both Korea and Japan. There he experienced the dedicated districts for Gamers, Nerds and Otaku, which were homes for the communities there. It was a wonderland of everything he grew up with and loved.
Coming back to the states, he knew that one day he’d have to bring all of this back with him. This dream became Gamers Heaven – the brand we know and love today.
But before that, he started working for Vanguard, quickly growing within the company. He had to make the hard decision to leave the safety and security of this job to pursue his dream, to bring everything he’d experienced in Japan and Korea to the people here. He knew that there was a community out there that was just waiting for him to begin.
Gamers Heaven opened its doors a little over 7 years ago. Since then, while growing the business, Andrew continued to grow his family, both personally and professionally. Gamers Heaven is here, finally ready to continue to grow and bring a safe space for all persons and hobbies. For everyone who wants to experience what made them happy as kids and continue to nurture that in others.
Our History
2015 - We first opened in the Summer of 2015 in a small 900 sqft retail space with the bare essentials as a proof of concept. Early 2016 we added another 1,000 sqft with separate spaces for tabletop, e-sports, retail and special events.
Late 2016 - Consolidated into a new 3400 sf space to accommodate the growing community and demand. Mid 2018 we took over an old pool hall growing to over 7,000 sf with a proper kitchen, eating space, introduced Ramen, and expanded all aspects of the business
2020 - Even though we had to close in March, we adapted by quickly obtaining licensing to add a full Asian market, adding boba tea to our menu. This granted us essential business status. We “pivoted" the business model adding a café space, theater rooms, and other private rooms while making improvements to accommodate additional services and welcomed many new customers.
Fall of 2020 - our first TikTok video went viral. With the growing number of people discovering and sharing our dream, our goal to franchise turned into reality as we began the steps to become a legal franchise brand. Throughout the rest of the year, people traveled from all across the country and as far reaching as Texas, Minnesota and California! Our fan base was growing and still growing quickly.
2021 – Finally Franchising! We are welcoming new owners to join us in our quest to offer Gamers Heaven to new communities across the United States! Together we will be able to bring the home that we all dream of having.
December 2021 - Our First Franchise Store Opened in Seattle, WA
2022 - Construction has begun at our Denver, CO and Miami, FL regions.
Steps to Open
Steps to Open
Inquire about franchising on this website.
Chat with us on a zoom or phone call.
Decide if you would like to learn more about Gamers Heaven and what it takes to open.
Complete our Confidential Questionnaire – Request our FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document)
Visit us. Discover more about ownership and visit Gamers Heaven flagship lounge in Phoenixville, PA.
Qualified candidates will become approved to join Gamers Heaven.
Start the on boarding and training process.
Open your own Gamers Heaven!
FAQs
Q. What are the startup costs and what do they include?
A. Currently, the range of investment is $410,594 to $728,353 which includes the $45,000 single unit initial franchise fee. This Investment range is our recommended range but may be lower depending on actual cost incurred during the buildout process.
Q. Why is the startup costs that price?
You are not just opening a simple game store, but a hub that is combining many different industries into one location. We’ve built into the startup costs everything from renovations, equipment, kitchen setup, to a large diverse inventory stock to appeal to the diverse customer base you will be drawing in, and much more. There is also a working capital built into the costs to protect each store during the early years of the business. We want to set you up for long term success, not a quick flip just to fail. Link to LEARN MORE.
Q. How big is the typical lounge?
A. We require between 5,000 and 10,000 sf. We will guide you on finding and evaluating sites for your Gamers Heaven and assist in the design and layout for optimizing the space which includes a gaming lounge, event space, café, kitchen and retail store.
Q. Do I need the investments funds all up front?
A. No, the full investment range is not required at the signing of our Franchise Agreement, but will be required as the costs associated with the buildout process. The only funds that will be required upfront will be the $45,000.00 franchise fee.
Q. How long does it take to open?
A. You should be able to open in as few as 3 to 6 months, it depends on how quickly you complete the fit out, the pre-opening process and complete training. Link to INQUIRE TODAY
Q. How many people should be on the team?
A. Typically between 6 and 12 employees depending on events, member reservations, daily guest count. Customer traffic to the lounge will fluctuate day of the week and time of day. Some will be renting gaming space, eating in the café and shopping in the retail store and you need to be staffed to support them. Link to LEARN MORE.
Q. Do I have to be an owner operator?
A. It is preferred, as we want our owners to be involved in an active way. Some may hire a general manager to oversee day to day operations, while owners focus on management, marketing and business development. Link to LEARN MORE
Q. Can I own more than one Gamers Heaven lounge?
A. Yes. We believe some owners will operate multiple units. We offer discounts on initial franchise fees for owners who commit to additional Gamers Heaven lounges complete with our café and retail store. Link to INQUIRE TODAY
Q. How much money will I be able to make in a year?
A. We will be able to share with you our Financial Performance Representation, called an Item 19 in our Franchise Disclosure Document which highlights affiliate performance and history. This can be a useful tool to help you evaluate the revenue potential for your Gamers Heaven. Link to INQUIRE TODAY
Investment Table
We have established a start-up process to help franchise owners open their new Gamers Heaven quickly. The chart below outlines some of the key areas in the initial and ongoing investment for your Gamers Heaven.
Per Our 2023 Franchise Disclosure Document - Currently Being Updated
Startup Investment - $500,000 to $1,500,000.00
Square Footage: 5,000 sqft to 15,000 sqft
Investment Breakdown Highlights:
Construction Costs: $150,000.00 to $750,000.00
Equipment & Furnishing : $150,000 to $350,000
Merchandise: $50,000 to $150,000
Working Capital: $100,000 to $200,000
Franchise Fee: $45,000 ($40,000 VetFran)
Grand Opening: $5,000
Royalty Fee: 6%
Brand Fund: 2%
The Initial Franchise Fee includes Gamers Heaven 2-week pre-opening training program conducted in Phoenixville, PA. This will cover daily operations, how to prepare foods, set up events and our program offerings. We also instruct on advertising, marketing and managing the overall business. Here you will learn our best practices and proven systems for efficient operation and how to serve all of your members, guests and customers.
We offer additional training and support in your Gamers Heaven lounge as you get ready to open and then we continue to be available to help you develop and grow to serve the local community. We look forward to helping you bring our Gamers Heaven. Single and multi-unit owner candidates are welcome to learn more.
Our Philosophy
Just like Akihabara in Tokyo, Japan, we will also become a true second home for all gamers, nerds and otaku. Community members, will be able to come in and be themselves, make new friends, eat, play, and relax.
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We’ll try to get back to you as soon as we can!