CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Fire and Ice Games is a special place, reflecting a culture and a passion for the rich history of video games and much more.

The high-end, retro and modern video game and card shop, located across from the Citrus Town Center, at 5245 Sunrise Blvd, Suite A, in the same shopping center as Buffalo Wild Wings and Red Lobster, celebrated its grand opening Saturday, March 2nd in Citrus Heights with a public ribbon cutting ceremony, sponsored by the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce, as owner Ryan Strobel, family and friends cheered him on.

An enthusiastic long line of several hundred people didn’t mind the wait to have a look inside at inventory reflecting some 30 years of the home gaming industry.

Fire and Ice buys and sells video games, sells popular trading cards such as Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, performs console repairs, hosts tournaments and sells collectibles.

The store fills a portion of a revamped Citrus Heights building once previously occupied by Pier 1 Imports. Apparel chain Purpose-Built Trade Co. is located next door.

Center display cases feature an inventory of popular Pokeman cards, a tabletop and collectible card game originally published in Japan in 1996.

Regional dignitary representatives from State Assemblyman Josh Hoover, Congressman Ami Bera, and Sacramento Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez presented proclamations celebrating the opening.

“We’ve created a very special space for our customers,” Strobel said. Another larger Fire and Ice Games is in Rocklin at 6688 Lonetree Blvd, Suite 100 opened in 2021.

As a combination video game and card shop, Fire and Ice appeals to two very fast-growing customer profiles, who share a measure of passion and multi-generational appeal for what they love.

Strobel expressed his deep gratitude to the crowd and the chamber, thanking everyone for their support.

“You come in here, you’re creating core memories with your kids, you’re reliving core memories with your best friends, your dads, your grandparents, that’s what it’s about,” Strobel said.

Center display cases feature an inventory of popular Pokeman cards, a tabletop and collectible card game originally published in Japan in 1996.

Customers also looked at card inventory of Magic: The Gathering tabletop and digital collectible cards. This series which was created by Richard Garfield was released in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast, Magic had approximately fifty million players as of February 2023.

The store fills a portion of a revamped Citrus Heights building once previously occupied by Pier 1 Imports. Apparel chain Purpose-Built Trade Co. is located next door.

You will feel like you’ve stepped inside of a video game itself when you walk inside Fire and Ice.

Turn around once you’ve walked inside the store and then quickly look back at a giant brightly colored mustachioed Super Mario themed mural featuring all the game characters you know.

There are artful splashes of color wherever you look, right down onto the floor, painted in swirling flaming yellow and black. A bin of popular character themed plushies invited a squeeze.

The store’s high sloping ceiling is painted bright blue. A large round ventilation pipe in the ceiling which runs the length of the store is painted to match the familiar green color of a Super Mario video game.

Hundreds of used and tested video games are displayed in different wall sections each representing popular individual gaming system manufacturers as Nintendo, Sega, Sony Playstation and Xbox.

Strobel said individual game cartridge prices vary depending on their rarity and collectible value with some starting under $10.00.

Strober, in his 40s, is a longtime gamer himself. He recalled the camaraderie he felt when home gaming consoles first became popular, and game cartridges were often shared once they became mastered.

Video games make up a $100 billion global industry, and nearly two-thirds of American homes have household members who play video games regularly.

 “There’s a certain nostalgia associated with some of these popular original games as they are now shared with the next generation, and they compete with one another at home as they did with their friends growing up,” Strobel said.

Fire and Ice buys and sells video games, sells popular trading cards such as Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, performs console repairs, hosts tournaments and sells collectibles.

 

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) first came to the United States in 1985 releasing video game franchises such as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid that is still enjoyed today.

There’s also plenty of Nintendo game cartridges to choose from starting from 1990 when Nintendo released its cartridge-based 64-bit system, the Nintendo 64.

In 1995, Sega released in North America its Saturn system, the first 32-bit console that played games on CDs rather than cartridges, and if you’re looking for one of your favorites from that era, you’ll find it.

Turn the corner and there’s a selection for the Sony Playstation. Sony’s Playstation 2, released in 2000, was the first console that used DVDs, went up against the Sega Dreamcast (released in 1999), the Nintendo Gamecube (2001), and Microsoft’s Xbox in 2001.

In 2005 and 2006, Microsoft’s Xbox 360, Sony’s Playstation 3, and Nintendo’s Wii then kicked off the modern age of high-definition gaming.

“I think of Fire and Ice as an historical experience, and not a typical retail store. We share the same passion for gaming that our customers do, and we do our best to put our customers first, to share the knowledge and joy we have,” Strobel said.

Fire and Ice Games, located at 5245 Sunrise Blvd in Citrus Heights is opened daily from 11 am to 7:30 pm. Call (916) 771-2161 for more information.