“Player First, Community First”: Fafnir’s Hoard aims to create community space in Bolton

May 21, 2026 · 0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Bolton’s newest local game store, Fafnir’s Hoard, is working to create a community hub for all to enjoy in their own Town, something the owners never had themselves.

Fafnir’s Hoard is owned by three Bolton locals, Austin Thayne, Ben Langlotz, and Gianluca Rizzo, friends for years who came together to create the local gaming store, brand new to Bolton.

When they were in school, Thayne and Langlotz used to drive to Orangeville just to find a community and space to play the collectible trading card game, Magic: The Gathering.

Now, they’ve set out to create what they never had growing up in Bolton.

Thayne went to school for entrepreneurship, initially partnering with another venture beforehand. It wasn’t until a delayed flight home from Calgary that Langlotz and Thayne sat down to discuss the possibility of the business.

“I’ve been playing the trading card games longer than I’ve known either of them combined. So, it was always something I really loved. I didn’t think it was really feasible to do something like this,” says Langlotz.

“I’m [was like] hey, why don’t we just do it?” says Thayne.

Rizzo was the missing piece of the puzzle, bringing in the ever-popular Pokémon knowledge, and the three set off to create a collaborative space for all to enjoy.

Fafnir’s Hoard serves as more than just a trading card store; they hold weekly nights where people can gather and come out to play, such as their Friday Night Magic or Drop-In learning sessions.

More than that, they encourage the community to bring their own games and just enjoy the space.

They have seating throughout for those to drop in and play, and a retail section with single and sealed products to complement and support those hobbies.

Thayne says in-store they promote the trading card games, and then sell the trading cards themselves and the accessories that go along to help facilitate play.

They soft-launched in February of 2026 and have since held their official grand opening in Caledon.

“The community support and reception has been incredible,” says Langlotz. “People have been really looking for a space like this in Town, so many people are driving 30, 40 minutes.”

Seeing the community come out and support the way it has, Langlotz says, is “surreal.”

“For me, it’s the people who make the hobby,” says Rizzo. “So for us, the people that we deal with on a daily basis, they’re great people. It’s a cakewalk to deal with these people because they just make our day better.”

Thayne says they very deliberately chose to open their business in Bolton as “we grew up here and we knew there was nothing to do.”

He adds that even their hours were deliberately set, they’re open six days a week, excluding Tuesdays, and keep their store open until 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

“We don’t charge for tables or anything. You can just come hang out with your friends, bring your own board game,” says Thayne. “Just a place to hang out that isn’t the bar or the Tim Hortons parking lot.”

Thayne adds they want to be able to provide the space and, in turn, receive feedback on what they should lean into to better facilitate their customers’ hobbies.

“Their engagement and their feedback has been really helpful with strategically developing the products and the games and the companies and brands we choose to work with,” says Thayne.

“The community becomes a little family,” adds Rizzo. “The regulars come around all the time and they don’t come here just to play, they come here to see people they know.”

“Everybody gets together to hang out and it becomes that space where you’re not just hanging out with your friends, you’re doing something you want to do.”

As their business grows, they’re looking forward to growing into niche areas and more underserved games.

They say the most important thing is that their store is for everyone.

“There’s no real barrier to entry. If you just want to pop in and play your game, pop in and play,” says Thayne.

“Pop in and learn, too. If someone has an interest and even just a curiosity and they want to come check it out, learn a game,” adds Langlotz.

“Anybody can come. It’s not meant for a specific age group. You can be 55, you can be 30. Anybody’s welcome. Anybody can play with anybody else. And at the end of the day, all we ask is you have fun,” says Rizzo.