E.E.J.L. WORLD L.L.C. — Attraction in Middletown

When I first stepped into this store, I expected a small, simple shop, but what I discovered completely exceeded my expectations. It’s a blend of nostalgia, community, and creativity. From the moment we entered, the mother welcomed my friends and me with warmth and enthusiasm. She took the time to show us around, explaining everything they offered and sharing their exciting future plans. It was heartwarming to see a family working together, having fun, and truly caring about their customers. The store is a haven for gaming, nostalgia, and creativity. The retro game room is filled with refurbished consoles and classic physical games in excellent condition, all at very reasonable prices. There's an arcade area for that old-school gaming experience and a tufting room that looks like a lot of fun. What really stood out to me was the collection of old gaming magazines from the 2000s. Flipping through those was such a nostalgic experience as I'm a 2000's kid. The family’s dedication to their business shines through in every interaction. The dad was particularly kind, chatting with us and answering all of our questions, no matter how many we had. He even gifted me a Starfield poster, which was such a generous and unexpected gesture. The kids were equally welcoming and shared their own enthusiasm, including a fun conversation about a stuffed duck band. The oldest lad was patient with my many questions and even made conversation with me which I really appreciated. Beyond the warm atmosphere, the store’s game trade-in policy is refreshingly fair, offering a much more consumer friendly deal, something you won’t find at bigger chains like GameStop. Whether you’re on the hunt for games, interested in learning tufting or sewing, or planning a gaming competition (Mario, Halo)with friends, this place has so much to offer. The nostalgic touches, attention, and creative opportunities make it a one-of-a-kind destination. I can’t...

In September I had put out feelers for a local business that could help me with creating a memory bear to commemorate my grandfather, who passed away last Christmas. I ended up going to EEJL WORLD LLC after a few folks on our town Facebook forum has recommended them, and had the most fantastic experience. I had brought in a few shirts just a week or so before Christmas and was ready to have hopes dashed that it would never be ready for the holiday. Other businesses I contacted had stop orders back in September, indicating no new bears would be created until after the New Year. To my surprise, EEJL WORLD LLC were wonderful, kind, and produced a stunning memory bear for me in a matter of days. The bear displays all of the most important parts of my grandfather’s shirts in a creative and adorable way: buttons from his shirt for the eyes, a chest pocket on the back of the leg, and the main image from the shirt on the belly, ears and tail. The bear is a phenomenal size compared to the tiny ones I was seeing for the same price on Etsy. They were intentional with every detail and stitch, even using the scrap materials to help weigh the bear down inside to help it sit up straight when displayed, while still keeping it fluffy with the stuffing and most importantly, soft to hug. I am impressed beyond words! 🥹 I will be returning for additional bears for my family members and another couple of bears for my sons, as well....

Whether you're into video, retro, arcade or card gaming, toys, comics, collectibles and memorabilia, or your bringing life to your own fun designs including hobby crafting classes for tufting, sewing, embroidery and beyond, this magical place is a one stop shop and a definite must visit place for Connecticut, New England and beyond. Their prices are great and likely better than anywhere you'll find for hundreds of miles around. It's entirely family owned, and you'll regularly find all 4 of the kids (whose initials form the name of the store) helping their parents Eli and Vanessa run the place, and are all genuinely looking to help you find what you need or just have fun and enjoy life. Their passion and generosity as business owners are unparalleled, but they'll also go above and beyond to help their customers fulfill their gaming needs and have as much fun in the process. Their optimism for their creative plans for the future of their store is infectious - as is their attitudes towards owning a business where fun comes first and profit comes a distant second. I implore everyone who shares their family values and passion for gaming and collecting to visit this 90s fantasy. This place is the real American dream, and I can't recommend...