Magic place
Summerside man opens dream business, Next Level Games and Collectibles
SUMMERSIDE — “Magic: The Gathering” means a lot to Cole Dowdle.
The competitive card game is his major hobby and a big part of his life.
“I’ve met some of my closest friends, the best man at my wedding, through ‘Magic’,” said Dowdle.
There is a small, but growing and passionate community of people in Prince County who play “Magic”. Many of them had, until recently, found a home away from home at Summerside’s Game On! a card and board game store.
The store served the area for several years, hosting regular tournaments and hang-outs, but it closed in December.
Fortunately, Summerside’s orphaned card gaming community will have a new place to call home. Sebastian Bilodeau is opening Next Level Games and Collectibles at 251 Water St. in the McNeill Mall. Bilodeau grew up in Summerside playing Magic. He moved away for several years after high school.
While he was away, he frequented card and board game shops and developed some great relationships.
“When I moved back here, I said ‘you know what? I think this is what I want to do,’” said Bilodeau, who came back to Summerside in 2018.
Despite his enthusiasm for his business idea, Bilodeau at first hesitated to move ahead. At the time Summerside was already home to Game On!, and he wasn’t sure if the player-base was large enough to support two such similar businesses. He also didn’t want to create animosity in the community.
But with Game On!’s closure Bilodeau found himself in a position to fill that void for local “Magic” players.
The response he’s received has been incredibly supportive, he said. “The community has been really helpful.”
“It’s so nice, it’s wonderful.” Dowdle had been considering selling his deck of collectable cards and getting out of the hobby all together. He’s a father, he said, and driving long-distances to play wasn’t an option.
“This was my one outlet to get out of the house and interact with other people. But Charlottetown is an hour away and I don’t know if I want to be spending that much money once or twice a week (driving there) to do that,” he said.
Dowdle has been one Bilodeau’s biggest supporters in his new business.
He’s been one of many. Ever since word got out that he was opening a shop Bilodeau had people drop in to help put together furniture, set up and generally lend as many hands as needed.
Bilodeau gets messages several times a week from players wondering when his shop is opening, he said.
“Islanders like to stick up for each other and help each other out, ‘Magic’ players are no different – we like to band together as a community. If there was anything we could do to make things easier, to help the transition process we’re going to do it,” said Dowdle.
Next Level will feature regular “Magic” tournaments with prizes, competitive video gaming, and Bilodeau plans to expand into other board and card games as well. He’s looking to get a feel for what the community wants.
His first official opening day was March 1. Going forward he’ll be open Wednesday to Sunday from noon until 8 p.m.