The ULTIMATE Minnesota Geek Guide to Black Friday and Small Business Saturday 2021

Planning to start your holiday shopping, support local geek businesses, or just take advantage of some amazing deals this weekend? Well, we’ve done all the legwork for you and are happy to provide your ultimate Minnesota geek guide to Black Friday and Small Business Saturday! We’ve arranged all of the businesses into categories and featured what sorts of bargains and specials they’re offering this year right under their address, complete with a Google Maps link to make life easy.

All of the awesome stores below are participating locations in the 2021 Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive, so why not take advantage of the deals to donate something in one of the collection boxes or make an online donation to brighten someone’s holiday? It feels really good to do good—we promise.

Finally, keep in mind that the pandemic is unpredictable and may cause abrupt changes in a store’s operations. We recommend checking a business’s website to confirm hours and shopping policies (such as mask requirements) before visiting in person—even if you’ve been there recently.

Art and Craft Supply Stores

Now is a great time to stock up on craft, cosplay, and art supplies from some awesome local businesses that will help you find exactly what you need—or something perfect for those special someones on your gift list!

Knit & Bolt
2833 Johnson St. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55418
(612) 788-1180
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday:

•  Buy 2, get a 3rd 70% off on apparel fabric, canvas fabric, sport/DK yarn, thread, and embroidery floss

Specials on Small Business Saturday:

• Free NE Shop Small bag with $50+ purchase

Specials on Cyber Monday:

• Free shipping with code Cyber-Shipping
• Auction of sample knits/sewn items on Instagram

Wet Paint
684 Grand Ave.
St Paul, MN 55105
(651) 698-6431
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• Many, many discounts in the holiday catalog will be available
• Special discounts on kids activity sets

Games, Toys, and Comics Establishments

Whether you’re shopping for your kids, your significant other(s), your siblings, your friends, or yourself, Minnesota’s wealth of local game, toy, and comics shops are sure to have what you need. You really don’t want to miss the amazing discounts so many of them are offering.

Adventure Loot Games
5221 Shoreline Dr.
Mound, MN 55364
(612) 876-7789
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• Roll before you check out to discover your discount: 1–10 for 10% off; 11–19 for 15% off; 20 for 20% off
• The first 25 customers on both days will get to a chance to win a set of dice by selecting random boxes; 4 winners will get a set of Sirius Dice sets (qualifying purchases will be over $10)
• Drop your name into a drawing for a pair of tickets to the local holiday production of the radio play It’s a Wonderful Life by Joe Landry (no purchase necessary)

All Systems Go Games and Movies
158 13th Ave. NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 331-0028
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• All $2 DVDs on sale—2 for $3
• 20% off Select Kickstarter bundles
• New board game clearance starting at 20% off
• Get both Innistrad: Midnight Hunt Commander decks for $65
• Adventures in the Forgotten Realms draft booster boxes $120
• 50% off board game rentals
• 10% off everything else in the store

Brickmania GHQ
1618 Central Ave., Suite 110
Minneapolis, MN 55413
(612) 584-3627
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday:

• Free 2022 Brickmania calendar when you spend $100
• Free Wunderwaffe Crate V3 or Wunderwaffe Crate with BrickArms Wunderwaffe DG-2BA when you spend $200 (while supplies last)
• Free domestic shipping when you spend $300 online

The Brickmania calendar will also be available for purchase for $10 along with Landos Randos for $15, online and in stores.

Comic Book College
4632 Nicollet Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55419
(612) 822-2309
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• 30% off back issues (priced under $100)
• 20% off graphic novels
• 20% off toys and action figures
• 10% off CGC-graded comics
• Select books $6 each
• Select sale comics 50¢ to $1 each

Sale excludes this week’s releases and any merchandise on hold.

Dreamers Vault Games
14332 Burnhaven Dr.
Burnsville, MN 55306
(952) 895-1989
Map Link

and

Dreamers Vault Games
11591 Theatre Dr. N
Champlin, MN 55316
(763) 506-0303
Map Link

and

Dreamers Vault Games
4701 Hiawatha Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 724-4543
Map Link

and

Dreamers Vault Games
207 13th Ave. S
South St. Paul, MN 55075
(651) 200-4374
Map Link

and

Dreamers Vault Games
3015 Utah Ave. S
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
(952) 938-8163
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• 25% off board games
• 25¢ back-issue comic books
• Buy any metal dice set or D100 metal and get one 50% off (lower value item is discounted)
• $60 Yu-Gi-Oh! Dawn of Majesty, Synchro Storm, and Burst of Destiny booster boxes
• $90 Magic: The Gathering Kaldheim draft, Midnight Hunt draft, Adventures in the Forgotten Realms draft, and Strixhaven draft booster boxes
• $95 Magic: The Gathering Kaldheim set and Midnight Hunt set booster boxes
• $200 Magic: The Gathering Midnight Hunt collector booster box

Galaxy Games (formerly the Gaming Goat)
1095 Diffley Rd.
Eagan, MN 55123
(651) 797-2670
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• Spend $100 and get a $10 gift card; Spend $250 and get a $40 gift card (Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon products not included)
• Spend $100 or more on Magic: The Gathering or Pokémon cards and get 2 packs of card sleeves free
• Buy 3 or more Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder books and get a set of dice free
• For every $100 spent, earn an entry to win a game from the raffle pool, with a new game added every 10 entries

The Gamers Den
140 Buchanan St. N #142
Cambridge, MN 55008
(763) 689-5370
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• 15% off in-stock items (some exclusions apply)*
• Free Black Friday goodie bag with $100 purchase (while supplies last)
• Cookies and cider while you shop

*Offer cannot be combined with other coupons or existing discounts. Not valid for purchase of gift cards.

Games By James (Roseville)
327 Rosedale Center #652
Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 636-0701
Map Link

and

Games By James (Burnsville)
1093 Burnsville Center
Burnsville, MN 55306
(952) 892-1004
Map Link

and

Games By James (Bloomington)
Mall of America
358 East Broadway
Bloomington, MN 55425
(952) 854-4747
Map Link

and

Games By James (Edina)
2510 Southdale Center
Edina, MN 55435
(952) 925-9656
Map Link

and

Games By James (Minnetonka)
Ridgedale Center
12401 Wayzata Blvd., Level 2
Minnetonka, MN 55305
(952) 545-6616
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• Free gift with any purchase of $30 or more
• Free gift with any purchase of $60 or more

Highlander Games
3015 Coon Rapids Blvd NW
Minneapolis, MN 55433
(763) 301-4236
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• 30% off Sonic the Hedgehog plushies
• 25% off DC Comics
• 25% off all Catan
• 20% off Warhammer
• $6 Magic: The Gathering Arena starter kits
• $10 off Pac-Man plushie sets, Godtear, and Gravwell 
• $30 Yu-Gi-Oh! gaming accessories set: binder, play mat, deck box, and card sleeves
• $40 Lyrical Melody booster sets
• Dragon Ball Z Saiyan Showdown and Cross Spirits booster boxes $75 each or both for $140

Heroic Goods and Games 
3458 Minnehaha Ave.
Minneapolis MN 55406
(612) 200-9354
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• For every $100 spent, get a $10 gift card to use later (promotion is valid in-store and online)

Hot Comics & Collectibles (Richfield)
26 W 66th St.
Richfield, MN 55423
(612) 798-3936
Map Link

and

Hot Comics & Collectibles (Minneapolis)
4400 Osseo Rd.
Minneapolis, MN 55412
(763) 593-1223
Map Link

and

Hot Comics & Collectibles (Jordan)
224 Broadway St. S
Jordan, MN 55352
(952) 492-7870
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• 50% off back issues
• 30% off trades and hardcovers
• 25% off toys

Hub Hobby (Little Canada)
82 Minnesota Ave.
Little Canada, MN 55117
(651) 490-1675
Map Link

and

Hub Hobby (Richfield)
6410 Penn Ave. S
Richfield, MN 55423
(612) 866-9575
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• Many RC items on sale
• More deals to be announced in-store and online starting Friday

Issues Needed Comics
15465 Cedar Ave. S #160
Apple Valley, MN 55124
(952) 683-9339
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• 30% off comic bundles
• Select graphic novels and back issues on sale

Level Up Games
120 2nd St. E
Hastings, MN 55033
(651) 346-1631
Map Link

and

Level Up Games
1425 LaSalle Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 315-3945
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday:

• Select items 10% to 50% off

Lodestone Coffee and Games
10982 Cedar Lake Rd.
Minnetonka, MN 55305
(952) 657-5226
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• Buy 1 board game, get 1 50% off
• 25% off Dungeons & Dragons books

Mind’s Eye Comics
200 E Travelers Trail, Suite 105
Burnsville, MN 55337
(952) 492-9350
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday:

• 50% off toys and games
• 20% off single issues
• 10% off trades, collections, and hardcovers
• Discount movies: $2.50 Blu-ray movies, $1.50 DVD movies, $5 TV and movie collections

Punch-Out Gaming
828 Lake St S
Forest Lake, MN 55025
(651) 464-9820
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• 50% off sports card singles
• 25% off Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, and Yu-Gi-Oh! singles
• 10% off all video games, systems, and accessories
• 10% off virtually everything else in the store

Sale excludes

Red 6 Games (formerly the Gaming Goat)
1326 Grand Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105
(651) 690-4628
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• Spend $100 and get a $10 gift card; spend $250 and get a $40 gift card (Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon products not included)
• Spend $100 or more on Magic: The Gathering or Pokémon cards and get 2 packs of card sleeves free
• Buy 3 or more Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder books and get a set of dice free
• For every $100 spent, earn an entry to win a game from the raffle pool, with a new game added every 10 entries

Source Comics and Games
2057 Snelling Ave. N
Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 645-0386
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• Many discounts throughout the store
• Make a monetary donation to the food shelf at the register to get an additional 10% off your purchase (or 20% off if you have an Adventure Club card)

Tower Games
3920 Nicollet Ave. #150
Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) 823-4477
Map Link

Specials on Small Business Saturday:

• 20% off Asmodee games
• 15% off Games Workshop games
• Buy 4 WizKids minis and get the 5th free
• Buy 2 Dungeons & Dragons books and get a free dice set ($15 or under)
• For every $100 spent, get a $10 gift card to use later

Steamship Coffee and Games
711 W Lake St.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 844-1011
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• 10% off all sealed products online with coupon code blackfriday10
• Double rewards points in-store

Bookstores

What would an ultimate geek shopping guide be without bookstores? Sorely lacking, that’s what. The stores below are participating in the Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive, but we have an entire separate guide for all of the independent bookstores throughout Minnesota—and it is huge! Click here to check it out.

Cream & Amber
1605 Mainstreet
Hopkins, MN 55343
(952) 595-5640
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• $10 off your $100 purchase
• $1 book table
• Limited-edition stocking hat on Friday and Saturday (in store only)
• Open extended hours (until 9:00 p.m.) through November 27
• All online book orders get free media mail shipping on orders placed November 26–December 3
• Spend at least $15 at any independent bookstore between Wednesday, November 24, and Tuesday, November 30, and get a free audiobook through Libro.fm

There will also be a pop-up shop for Plastic Free Pursuit on Saturday from noon to 3:00 p.m.

Moon Palace Books 
3032 Minnehaha Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 454-0455
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• South Minneapolis Small Business Sale: buy four $25 gift certificates from 10 participating businesses, including Moon Palace, and get a fifth free
• Spend at least $15 at any independent bookstore between Wednesday, November 24, and Tuesday, November 30, and get a free audiobook through Libro.fm

Once Upon A Crime 
604 W 26th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 870-3785
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• Spend at least $15 at any independent bookstore between Wednesday, November 24, and Tuesday, November 30, and get a free audiobook through Libro.fm

The store is also hosting two authors on Saturday: Matt Witten (The Necklace) from noon to 2:00 p.m. and Christine Husom (Death to the Dealers, Winnebago Mystery series) from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Red Balloon Bookshop
891 Grand Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105
Map Link

Specials on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• Spend at least $15 at any independent bookstore between Wednesday, November 24, and Tuesday, November 30, and get a free audiobook through Libro.fm

Specials on Small Business Saturday:

• For in-store purchases of $50 or more you’ll receive a fabulous, free Red Balloon Mug (while supplies last)
• Shop online and receive a 10% discount on all online purchases when you use the code INDIESFIRST at checkout
• Hot drinks on the patio from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and chats with a booksellers about the Red Balloon Book Drive (formerly known as Be an Angel), which is partnering with the 2021 Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive.

Other Local Purveyors

You can’t go wrong with these local geek-owned-and-operated establishments!

Electric Fetus
2000 4th Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 870-9300
Map Link

Special on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday:

• 20% off storewide  (excludes tickets, gift cards, mix-and-burn CDs, and any product already sale priced, including Black Friday exclusives)
• Get a January savings punch card free with every purchase November 26–December 31
• Signed copies of music available for in-store purchase only on Black Friday (limit 1 of each per person)
• Exclusive Black Friday record store releases
• Record Store Day Black Friday exclusive releases will be available in the garage from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with numbers at approximately 8:00 a.m.

Blue Sun Soda Shop
1625 County Hwy. 10
Spring Lake Park, MN 55432
(763) 432-0704
Map Link

and

Blue Sun Soda Shop
9801 Nicollet Ave.
Bloomington, MN 55420
Map Link

Special on Small Business Saturday:

• Pictures with Santa in the Bloomington store from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and in the Spring Lake Park store from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Don’t Forget the Holiday Drive!

As mentioned above, all of the stores on this page are hosting donation boxes for the 2021 Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive. Curious what kinds of items we are collecting or what organizations we’re collecting for? Click here to find out!

And if you do add a little something to a donation box, snap a selfie and share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram with the hashtag #GiveTCG to spread the word!