Area 51

About Us

Area 51 is Cortland’s premier destination for games, collectibles, and community, now proudly located in Riverside Plaza. Originally founded in 1995 as The Crowe’s Nest, the store has grown into a 14,000 sq. ft. hub for tabletop gaming, events, and pop-culture merchandise. Area 51 offers one of the region’s largest selections of trading card games, board games, retro and modern video games, anime collectibles, Dungeons & Dragons, Warhammer, tarot, books, dice, jewelry, Squishmallows, Funko Pops!, and custom-made products created in-house.

Area 51 hosts weekly tournaments, learn-to-plays, RPG sessions, miniature gaming, painting workshops, and community events for all ages. It is an official retailer and event location for Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, Digimon, Dragon Ball Super, Star Wars, Riftbound, Gundam, Lorcana, Warhammer Organized Play, and more.

The membership-only lounge features darts, pool, ping pong, arcade basketball, putting games, foosball, and console lounges/booths. Free-to-use amenities include a Kid’s Corner, large play space, private RPG rooms, and miniature wargaming tables with terrain. The store also offers a growing selection of snacks and drinks, with private party rentals coming soon.

Locally owned and community-driven, Area 51 is dedicated to creating a welcoming space where people can play, collect, connect, and explore new hobbies together.