SOUTH DAKOTA – May 25th marks Geek Pride Day, a national holiday celebrating geek culture and activities.
Luckily for local geeks, the Black Hills area hosts plenty of venues which cater to them. Check out NewsCenter 1 Digital Staff Writer Ben Ross’s choices for his Geeking Out In The Hills editorial series below.
Bokujo Ramen
518 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City, SD
Lunch Hours:
Monday through Friday – 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.Saturday and Sunday – 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Dinner Hours:
Sunday through Thursday – 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Friday and Saturday – 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
I left the news station a little before 7:00 p.m. to meet Justin Warner at his ramen shop Bokujo Ramen. He owns this amazing restaurant with his wife Brooke Sweeten.
Before stepping inside I was greeted by “Cowju” (a play on “Kaiju” a Japanese term associated with giant monsters) the mascot of the restaurant in the window. I was sold, this place is going to be awesome.
Bokujo Ramen is fully decked out with some amazing décor. Everywhere you look there is something that catches your eye. From the TV in the corner that plays Ultraman episodes all day long to an entire cabinet filled top to bottom with Pokémon plushies and toys.
I’m told Bokujo Ramen offers up some outstanding food. I still haven’t eaten there, I plan to this weekend. But to be completely honest, I wasn’t there for the food. I was there to talk about Bokujo Ramen’s Private Karaoke Party Room.
That’s right, a private room inside the restaurant that you and 15 friends can rent out. After getting a complete tour (and I mean complete, we even checked out the bathroom that is covered in Japanese memorabilia) we sat down in the Private Karaoke Party Room to talk about the space and all things geeky.
Can you give me a brief history of the place?
“We opened the place in 2021. I was working in food television, I had just moved here. And when the pandemic hit, I didn’t really have a source of income. Or at least one that was predictable. The fate of TV at that time, and cookbooks and everything I do extracurricularly was unknown.”
“So, I talked to my wife and I said ‘Honey, we need to build a lemonade stand or something.’ And this ended up being the lemonade stand. We were very fortunate to find this space with these landlords, that’s Black Hills Works. And they believed in us.”
“We opened as ‘To-Go’ only just in the front half of the restaurant, with no dining room. We didn’t know if ‘dining in’ was ever going to be a thing again. But we then got to a safer place and built a dining room. Once we had the dining room we had this room here, and we were like ‘What do we do with this room?’, and I bought a karaoke machine. My wife Brooke thought it wasn’t going to be a good investment. But then we ended up in here at six in the morning, passed out, saké bottles strewn everywhere and I was like ‘I think we just proven the concept.'”
Let’s talk about the décor. Is it from a personal collection?
“We didn’t have a décor budget, because we didn’t have any budget. We basically cleaned out our house and put a bunch of stuff on the walls. When people saw that we like this sort of stuff, people started donating things. They started tipping us off on things. Maybe it didn’t fit their aesthetic, but they knew it fit ours.”
Tell me more about ‘Cowju’
“Well, we knew we needed a mascot. We are big kaiju, Godzilla, and Ultraman fans and we knew when we had our logo (the upside-down cowboy hat full of ramen) and the beef ramen was our first thesis statement. We knew once we had those things going together that we could make this a South Dakota ramen restaurant. So the Black Angus as a monster is pretty much perfect.”
What is your favorite song to perform on the karaoke machine?
“I’m a Bee Gees guy. Anything from their catalog I really enjoy doing. I don’t know if ‘Loser’ from Beck is on there, but I’d get down on that. I’ve done a lot of karaoke in my days.”
How do you book the Private Karaoke Party Room?
“So you just email us at info@bokujoramen.com. Let us know your party size, we think the room caps out at 16. We had people have business conferences in here, we had people sit here for a quiet place, use the wifi, and play pinball.”
Justin then gestures over to the karaoke machine and says “This thing has the entire ‘BTS’ catalog in it. So we had three 13-year-old girls rent out the room just for that.”
Check out Bokujo Ramen online here.
You can also order online here.
Heroes and Villains
524 6th St, Rapid City, SD 57702
Hours:
Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
I met up with Nathan Harding at his shop Heroes and Villains in Rapid City on a Thursday afternoon. The store is huge and filled to the brim with some amazing collectibles.
After taking a lot of pictures and drooling over the insane amount of comics and retro video games, I talked to Nathan about Heroes and Villains and all the awesome stuff inside.
Can you give me a brief history of the store?
“So we started back in 2017. The fall of 2017. It was a lot smaller than this. I had a business partner at the time, we both had a passion for coins and precious metals. He also had a pretty big passion for comics, and I also had a big passion for video games. So we said ‘Let’s do a store with all three of those things.'”
“At that time we really thought the coins and precious metals were going to carry the store but the collectibles took a big turn. So we expanded to do much more with video games and comics.”
“The comic books have come in and out of here like crazy. We had the first appearance of Spiderman, Fantastic Four number one, we had some of the big comics, that you won’t imagine being here in Rapid, but it’s pretty cool.”
“Within the last, I’d say couple of years, we started moving into some of the tabletop gaming. The D and D (Dungeons and Dragons) culture really took off, especially during COVID. Everyone was stuck at home. And Warhammer came along with that too. Painting the minis (miniature figures used in tabletop gaming), D and D, Magic (Magic the Gathering card game), and Pokemon, we kind of picked that up along the way. Now we morphed into what we have now.”
“We also try to get a new pinball machine every year. So hopefully we get another one in 2024.”
In your opinion, what is the best piece in the store’s collection?
“Well, we actually just sold one of the coolest pieces in our collection the other day. We sent a piece off to a fellow coin shop in Sioux City, Iowa. It was an 1893 S Morgan silver dollar, which is the second-rarest one. It was a $20,000 coin. We don’t see a lot of coins like that.”
“As far as comics, that Amazing Fantasy, the first appearance of Spiderman, that is probably the coolest comic we had come through. We also had some of the rarest Playstation games come through. Like, ‘Rule of Rose’ for the PlayStation 2 and Samson for Nintendo, which is the coveted NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) game.”
Do you have a favorite game in your retro collection?
“Well, there is always ‘Super Mario Bros. 3′. That’s a solid one for me. But, one of the video games that kind of keeps me playing every now and then, and I don’t play ’em as much, I have kids now, so I don’t have time. But, I sunk a lot of time into turn-based RPGs (Role Playing Games) growing up. So ‘Final Fantasy 3’ on the Super Nintendo. That’s my all-time favorite game.”
What is the oddest piece in the entire collection?
“We’ve gotten in some strange stuff. Let me ask RJ.”
Nathan comes out from around the counter and walks towards RJ who is sorting comics.
“Hey RJ, what’s the oddest or strangest piece we have in the store?”
RJ thinks for a while and Nathan asks him again, “What’s the weirdest thing we have in here?”
RJ responds with, “You mean other than you?”
They both laugh and Nathan says, “Yeah, other than me.”
RJ points to the very front of the store and says, “That Power Rangers thing.”
Nathan says “Oh yeah! For sure! That’s totally it. So up there in the front window. That is the actual suit of the mole man used in the Japanese Power Rangers movie. A guy in Gillette bought it in California at one point in time, and couldn’t house it anymore, so he sold it to us. So, now he wears a Heroes and Villains tee shirt and sits in our window.”
Check out Heroes and Villains online here and here.
Java Joint
145 Glendale Drive, Lead, SD
Hours:
Wednesday and Thursday – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.Friday – 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.Saturday – 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.Sunday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Are you looking for a place to chill, listen to music, play some video games, and sip on an amazing milkshake? Well, Java Joint is that place.
Java Joint is a cozy spot in Lead that is one of the most unique places you’ll come across. The décor is a mix of hippie and punk aesthetics. From comfy couches to diner-style booths, Java Joint is a super welcoming environment.
I spoke with Tyke Mohr the owner of Java Joint while he made two amazing-looking grilled steak and cheese burritos for two people playing Playstation 2 downstairs.
Can you give a brief history of the place?
“We started Java Joint five years ago, to have a place in this community for no drugs, no alcohol, and no gambling. And when we did, the community started bringing in all this cool stuff. That’s how it started getting so eclectic and so funky.”
Can you tell me about your gaming setup?
“We have a Wii, a NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), we have a PS2 (Playstation 2). And we also have an air hockey table downstairs in the black-lit area. There’s a TV down there that usually is playing some kind of Star Wars movie.”
Tell me a bit about the bowling alley. Was Java Joint a part of it?
“That was one of the main reasons we wanted this location. To be connected with the bowling alley. That way people could run back and forth. But that only lasted for four months. The bowling alley went under, but that’s alright we are still rockin’ and rollin’.”
What’s on your menu?
“Our menu is very diverse. We have everything from “Loaded Nachos”, which have mac and cheese on top of ’em, to one of our best-selling items the “Grilled Steak and Cheese Burrito”. Its carne asada, which is made in-house, we have a kitchen downstairs. Same with our baked goods, they are all made in-house as well.”
You guys have a big collection of milkshakes, right?
“Yeah, I think you can do over 200 different types of milkshakes or malts. And you can add however many shots of espresso you want.”
Do you have a favorite menu item?
“My favorite is a white chocolate caramel Reese’s with one shot of espresso in it, milkshake. We don’t have a name for it, but we run it as a special every now and then. But the ‘Grilled Steak and Cheese Burrito’ is my favorite food item on the menu. That thing is just bomb.”
Check them out on Facebook here.
Lookout Games
1940 North Avenue, Suite 9, Spearfish, SD 57783
Hours:
Sunday through Tuesday – 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.Wednesday through Friday – 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Saturday – 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Lookout Games in Spearfish has been open since 2018 and is one of the most welcoming gaming stores I have ever visited.
Owned by Tyler Tillman, Lookout Games offers “high-quality nerdy goodness.” Along with Magic: The Gathering decks and Funko PoP! Figurines, there’s a high focus on traditional tabletop and role-playing games. Lookout Games is a nerd paradise.
When asked about excluding video games from his store, Tillman had this to say:
“The world has too much digital stuff going on. There’s not enough face-to-face anymore. It’s not as personable as it used to be. We’re more connected, but never more alone. So I try to keep it to where this is a place for people to actually have a human connection.”
Lookout Games not only functions as a retail store but also has ample space dedicated to gaming. Whether you’re there to host a Dungeons and Dragons session or go head to head in a Magic: The Gathering tournament, Lookout Games provides plenty of space to do so.
My major takeaway from visiting Lookout Games was the effort Tyler put into making his store a safe space. Tyler spoke of the concept of “Third Space”.
“Third Space is the idea that everyone needs that third space (that’s not home or school/work) to kind of grow into their own person, or just relax.”
If you are a tabletop gaming fan and looking for that perfect “third space”, Lookout Games in Spearfish is an excellent choice. Check out their website for a look at all they offer.
Nine8Culture
123 E Jackson Blvd Ste 1, Spearfish, SD 57783
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday – 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Nine8Culture is so full of amazing geeky collectibles, that I’m pretty sure I missed a lot of stuff. I need to go back to take it all in.
I met Randy Lepthien, one of the three owners of Nine8Culture, on a Wednesday afternoon at the shop. Primus was playing over the shop’s speakers and I saw an original Death Star Space Station playset up on one of the shelves. Am I in heaven?
After, snapping a bunch of photos and taking a mental note of which He-Man toys I needed to get, I had a quick chat with Randy about this awesome store.
Alright, I know you are probably sick of this question, but “Nine8Culture”, what does it mean?
“Sooo, in the world of graded comic books, they grade from a .5 to a 10. And 9.8 is kinda the gold standard for graded comics. 9.9’s and 10’s are kind of rare, so 9.8 is what everyone strives for.”
“Our feeling is comic books are sort of the roots of a lot of pop culture. So kinda everything has comic books to thank for all the other stuff.”
Can you give me a brief history of the store?
“We are three partners. It’s me, Weston Pleinis and Allen Conradsen. We all had different interests.”
“One of us is into vintage stuff, vintage Star Wars, vintage G.I. Joe, kind of a kid of the 80s. He loves restoring that stuff and collecting that stuff.”
“My other partner is a comic book guy. And I’m just kind of the one in the middle who watches all the movies and sees all the TV shows. I like horror and sci-fi, and LEGOS and comic books and everything.”
“We talked for many many many years and just finally decided ‘Let’s do it!’ and here we are.”
How did you guys meet?
“All three of us worked together in casinos in Deadwood for 15-plus years.”
Can you talk about the collection of comics you have? And how you all acquired them?
“A majority of them came from our personal collections. When we started this project a couple years back, we started accumulating inventory. Picking up some things we knew we wanted in the store. When money allowed us to grab some nice stuff, get some high-end stuff, and have a mixture. It’s probably like a 60/40, 70/30 split between what came from our personal collections and what came into the store or we bought since we started the store.”
Do you have a favorite in the collection, comics or toys?
“Hmmm…I don’t know. That new Darth Vader statue we put out is incredible. The mogwai with the melting gremlin is probably my favorite piece that we have. And some of the autographed stuff is pretty cool. The autographed Spiderman print I would love to have in my personal man-cave.”
“We kinda joke that this place is all of our man caves now. Our wives are all like ‘Oh you know, when you guys open the store, you’re gonna get all that crap out of the basement, right?’ And then when we opened the store, and they check the basements and they said ‘This place is still full of crap, what happened?'”
What’s the strangest piece in the collection?
“Oooo, strangest thing…” Randy smiles and chuckles. “It’s downstairs because it shouldn’t be on the floor. It’s a porcelain Xena: Warrior Princess doll. It looks nothing like her and it’s disturbing and odd and it’s huge. It’s 30 inches tall, and it’s just plain weird. It’s creepy.”
Do you have some advice for beginner collectors?
“Go to your local shop, talk to the people, explain your interests, and let them show you how to get into it. Let them guide you. Don’t be scared, jump in and have fun.”
Check out Nine 8 Culture online at nine8culture.com
West River Comics and Collectibles
2725 Lemay Boulevard, Bldg 4020, Ellsworth AFB, SD 57706
Hours:
Monday through Friday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
After taking a short drive from the Ellsworth Visitor’s Center, my Air Force base sponsor, SSgt. Jake Jacobsen and I arrived at West River Comics and Collectibles.
We were greeted by April Halvorson who runs the comic shop with her husband. I sat down for a little chat with April while Jake checked out their Pokémon cards.
Can you give a brief history of the place?
We started the store just a couple of months ago. We collected comic books first, and our son collects Magic cards. We knew there was an open space here and we were like ‘Well, let’s open up a store, let’s give it a try.’ We knew there was a need here for it.
What is your history with comics and collectibles?
Just pretty much comic books for me. I don’t know much about Magic. My son tried to teach me but yeah, no, not for me. My husband started collecting (comics), and he kinda got me into them. My favorites are Spawn and Venom.
In your opinion, what are the coolest collectibles in the shop?
April looks around the shop and her husband points to the Magic cards displayed in a case next to the register.
Yeah, Magic! Our Magic wall and all the Magic cards in the case here. And our CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) comics, the graded ones, up top.
Do you hold Magic tournaments here?
We had one tournament, and we hope to have one coming up. That would be at a different location and hopefully on a Saturday. That way we could have more of the airmen participate.
For someone wanting to get into collecting, do you have any advice?
Start out small. Magic is very expensive, and Warhammer is also very expensive. So start out small and see if you like it, and then go from there.
Check out West River Comics and Collectibles online at their site and Instagram.
