A group of players battle each other in a game of War Hammer 40,000 on Sept. 25, 2024, at the Pendleton Cell Repairs & Hobby, which is relocating to 1720 SW Court Ave. and rebranding as Yee Hobbies.

PENDLETON — Pendleton Cell Repairs & Hobby is relocating and rebranding under a new name, Yee Hobbies.

The cellphone repair and live game shop is moving from 341 SE Court Ave. sometime in mid-October to the old Club 24 Fitness in Melanie Square at 1720 SW Court Ave.

“My community is incredibly excited,” owner Nathan Smith said. “It’ll be bigger, quieter, better air conditioning, heating, all that.”

Smith said the rebranding leans more into live games and tournaments because nearly 90% of the shop’s revenue derives from gaming while 10% is through cellphone and computer repairs.

“Last year I did maybe $150,000,” Smith said. “But this year I’m doing what looks like $325,000. There is a lot of interest in the hobby side.”

A group of players in the store on Sept. 25 were in the midst of battling in an adventurous game of War Hammer 40,000. Players surrounded a world map spread out on the table to strategize a course of action against their opponent while using measuring tape to advance their figures.

Smith said about 20 to 24 people cram themselves inside the 900-square-foot store to play tournaments. One of the challenges the shop faces is running out of room for tables and chairs for players plus wall space for shelves to display products.

“We’re filling up the building,” Smith said. “On a lot of Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, the building is full. It gets loud. It gets hot, depending on the time of year. So, yeah, kind of necessary to move.”

For six years the company has operated at the spot next to Circle K.

The local hobby store has built a loyal customer base that is known for its eclectic operation.

Consumers that are in need of a cellphone repair are able to sit, wait and watch one table of players spark up a match of Magic: The Gathering trading card games and on another table check out players role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons.

Kohl Griffith, 29, of Pendleton, who was in the middle of a War Hammer 40,000 battle, has been a regular hobbyist at the shop for about a year.

“It’s nice to just have a place to kind of geek out,” Griffith said. “Where you don’t have to do it online where you’re kind of slouched over a computer. Being able to actually interact with people kind of feels more uplifting.”

Although the shop attracts gamers to fun theme nights such as Magic Mondays and War Hammer Wednesdays, Smith said expanding to a bigger space would provide enough room to host larger gaming tournaments, which potentially could double the number of players.

Smith said people travel from Portland, Bend, Spokane and Boise to compete in live game tournaments. In April, he sent the Flesh and Blood game tournament winner to Amsterdam to compete in the world championship.

Smith said he excited to build a bigger community and space for hobbyists.

For more information on the store’s game nights and operating hours, go to the Pendleton Cell Repairs & Hobby Facebook page.