South Bend’s Griffon Bookstore celebrates 50 years with return of GriffCon

SOUTH BEND, Ind -- The Griffon Bookstore, Indiana’s oldest gaming store, is celebrating 50 years in downtown South Bend with the return of GriffCon, a two-day gaming convention bringing enthusiasts together from across the country.

Founded in 1976 by Ken Peczkowski and his wife, Sarah, the store has grown into a community gathering place for generations of gamers.

This year’s anniversary celebration is taking place at the St. Joseph County Public Library, with free admission through a partnership with the library.

For Peczkowski, the milestone represents more than five decades in business. It also honors the relationships he and his late wife built with customers over the years.

“The people that have come here have been a big part of my life and my wife Sarah, who passed away seven years ago from cancer,” Peczkowski said. “We feel that all the people that have come here are our family. They’ve been a part of our lives, and we’ve been honored to be part of theirs.”

As the celebration kicked off, Peczkowski received a key to the city of South Bend in recognition of the store’s 50 years in business.

GriffCon is the first convention the bookstore has hosted since its 40th anniversary. This year’s event features a range of games, from classics such as chess and mahjong to role-playing games including Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder.

“Most conventions you go to, the people that come, you expect them to be veterans,” Peczkowski said. “This one, we will take the time to walk you through it.”

Experienced players also took part in the festivities. Kyle Metz won a trophy in Friday evening’s Ticket to Ride tournament, a game in which players collect cards to claim railway routes connecting different destinations.

Metz said he has been visiting the Griffon Bookstore since he was about 12 years old.

His connection to gaming, particularly Ticket to Ride, is also deeply personal. Metz said he was born hard of hearing and underwent surgery at age 3. The first sound he remembers hearing was a train horn, sparking a lifelong interest in trains and railway-themed games.

“I’ve been a big fan of Ticket to Ride almost all my life,” Metz said. “Ever since then, I’ve been so into trains. I’ve gone through so many train sets, train hats, train whistles. It has been awesome. I love it.”

GriffCon continues Saturday at the St. Joseph County Public Library. Admission is free, and visitors can participate in a variety of games throughout the event.