Trotta's Hobbies — Local services in Barnegat Township

I'm a competitive magic player at heart. I was out of town and wanted to attend game day. I certainly chose a poor location to do so. After being unable to find any information about the start time of the event on the website, I called the store. I was told that the event would begin at 6:00 Saturday evening. I arrived at 5:45 and registered. I soon noticed several major aesthetic red flags about the store. 1. It was inordinately hot: it was hotter inside the store than the august heat outside. I wore a short sleeve shirt and shorts, but inevitably found myself sweating and with a headache in no time. 2. The store isn't appealing to customers: behind the counter, I saw a myriad of boxes and junk strewn about. The space was incredibly cramped, such that two persons of average size could not walk abreast. 3. The store felt very unprofessional: I arrived at 5:45, however, even after the requisite number of players had registered for the event, it didn't start until 45 minutes later at 6:45. The store carries few magic singles; which is definitely forgivable, but not what a competitive or even casual magic player needs in a local game store. Magic singles that were available were either in a case near the register, or concerningly across the room in 400 ct boxes, however these consisted of mostly commons and uncommons. The sole employee at the store certainly seemed like he was just doing his best, but occasionally left the store, leaving product completely unprotected. After tilting out and dropping from the event, I left feeling that this store was a poor indication of a hobby shop should be. This felt more like a nerd shack than a local game store. If you live more than 10 miles away it's honestly better to play against yourself or a friend at home than to...

Hello everyone, here is some info on this horrible so called store. I called on the phone to ask about if they had any pokemon 151 sealed products and the woman on the phone said no just singles they have a lot. So I drove 30 minutes to check this place out, my first time walking in the store. I asked them if they had the pokemon 151 singles the woman replied maybe in this book and in the case. I looked but nothing so the owner was with her as well so I asked him where the Pokemon 151 singles were. He said they don’t have any….i said I spoke with the woman on the phone and she said you guys have a lot. He said no she didn’t she doesn’t know. So I said I just drove over here 30 minutes away and you don’t have them. He said I can leave and got very nasty. I said really, that’s how you treat your costumers. Lieing to them and telling them to leave cause you don’t know your inventory and lie to people and just don’t care about customers or customer service. I have never seen anyone like that so rude, no people skills, certainly doesn’t know how to run a small business. Treating people wrong and insulting them and being rude and telling people to leave, cause you don’t like the truth. No everyone need to know how this owner chis is, I asked his name. Trotta’s hobbies is trash and very unprofessional and hopefully won’t be in business long. To offend people for no reason because of there incompetence is totally gross just like the owner. Must have a misribull life, sad there are people like this. Has no place have a small business or anything. Truly a complete waste of a person and good business. Stay far away from this place. For the community we deserve...

I am a regular customer at Trotta's hobbies. Although it may not be the most upscale, best place ever - it's Trotta's, and as some one who loves magic, and loved hanging out and being a nerd - it's perfect. The owner, Chris Trotta, has become a friend, almost reminiscent of a cool uncle, if you will, and knows my friends and I all by name and jokes around with us, as well as doing great, reasonably priced business. Trotta's Hobbies is a place where, through the community of regulars, friendships can be born. It's safe, it's clean, and while I have seen some reviews calling them unprofessional or criticizing the place for being too thrown-together, that's where the charm comes from. It's just a fun place - you might spend a bit of cash, play some nerdy games, and after everything, you'll definitely have smiled a lot.

I've been going to Trotta's for a little less than I year and I love it. It's a nice place with great service. It's a wonderful environment with a good selection. I recommend it to everyone; from dads looking for a board game to a seasoned card game or Warhammer...