The historic library with a big green dragon: TCB Games is creating a sense of wonder in Huntington

On 44 East Park Drive in Huntington, you’ll find a historic library with a large, green sculpted dragon head on the side of the building. Inside, it’s what some might consider the ultimate nerd nirvana – TCB Games, Huntington's local board game and video game store, which has been operating for almost 30 years.

Noah ProffittTCB Games has been located inside Huntington's historic library for over 10 years.Selling video games, board games, trading cards, movies, pop culture memorabilia, and more, TCB Games also hosts Magic: The Gathering card opening nights and Dungeons and Dragons campaigns. It’s easily recognizable thanks to the iconic green dragon head, which is affectionately named Charlie, based on Owner Todd Nightenhelser's imaginary childhood friend.

He says his goal is to fill every corner of the store with love for geek culture, while honoring the unique architecture of a classic library. 

“When I was a kid, I read The Hobbit so many times it made me feel a sense of wonder, and I think that is my job as a business owner of a game shop,” Nightenhelser explains.

Last year, TCB Games won Going to Bat for Small Business, a summer-long program, where a committee selects a small business to receive a promotion package worth around $8,000. The program is run by the Fort Wayne Tincaps and presented by PNC.

Run by the Fort Wayne Tincaps and presented by PNC Bank, the program is “designed to make a difference for small businesses in the Northern Indiana region...Small businesses play a critical role in our community and the broader economy, bringing economic growth, innovation, and diversity to our region,” according to the website. 

The program was created in 2020 by PNC, in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Pirates of the MLB, initially focusing on helping small businesses in Pittsburgh. It was brought to the Fort Wayne Tincaps in 2023.

Nightenhelser was informed about Going to Bat through a customer, who told him he should enter. 

“This one seemed more important since I truly just love baseball, and it was always one of my dreams to throw a first pitch out,” he says.

Noah ProffittA customers looks through a binder of cards with a TCB Games employee.In August of 2024, TCB Games was announced as the second winner, alongside Gough Legal Group. As winners, both businesses received the $8,000 package, which included tickets, Going to Bat merch, 30-second radio and TV ads, in-park reconginziation, and more.

Nightenhelser explains they were already expanding their market and ad space into the Fort Wayne market at the same time they received their ad space, but the program still helped boost their business.

“We were already at 30% to 50% total business from Fort Wayne, after Going To Bat… we jumped to almost 50% business from Fort Wayne,” he said.

He believes that due to the program, they’ve been able to reach a larger range of people in the Fort Wayne area.

Noah ProffittA wizard named Draconis the Enlightened One greets guests inside TCB Games.“None of my ads go to Huntington County anymore…. we have customers that will make special pilgrimages just to our store,” he says, adding that some drive multiple hours to come visit the store and shop in Huntington.

Since being selected for Going to Bat for Small Business, the store has been featured in a book, Secret Indiana: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure by Jamie Ward, which features Charlie the Dragon and their wizard named Draconis the Enlightened One on the front cover.

Nightenhelser attributes this to how unique TCB Games is. He notes the store’s location in the  Carnegie Library for over 10 years, the placement of Charlie outside, their ongoing work to create a space for communities, and the addition of a garden, where they grow fruits and vegetables for those in need. 

On any given day, groups of kids pull up to the entrance on their bikes, go inside, and check out the place, alongside parents showing the children the store. 

Jordan Wager, one of TCB's employees, shares his love for connecting with customers through movies and video games, creating that connection with them.

“A 7-year-old came in and asked if we had any “The Rock-afire Explosion” – we didn't, but I told him I knew about it, and he just got so excited that someone knew what he was talking about,” he recalls.

Noah ProffittCustomers browse a selection of cards at TCB Games.TCB Games is also a certified Safe Place, which means they’ve been designated by the licensed Safe Place Agency and fit the criteria set up by NSPN to be a safe place for youth to go when in crisis. Staff have also received orientation and training by the local licensed Safe Place agency. 

Recently, TCB partnered up with local artist Breadwigram to create a Dragon mural on their inside entrance. Nighttenhelser also explains his desire to team up with smaller businesses and artists and host them to sell inside the TCB Building.

“And the goal of the coalition is to bring artists into the world and put them in the public's eye. The open offer is to any artist who feels they can make a little bit of money off my customers. I will let them set up a booth on the showroom floor in my building for free,” he explains.

Noah ProffittA mural by Breadwigram at the entrance to TCB Games.With the success of Going to Bat, TCB has been able to reach a larger portion of the Fort Wayne market, and also allowed Nightenhelser to fulfill his dream of throwing the first pitch.

Now being connected to a larger market, TCB Games has big plans for the future, whether that’s teaming up with more local businesses, growing their local garden, placing more statues outside their store, or even planning to open up a second location.

“We’re currently looking into it, and without PNC, we wouldn't be looking, but we're looking at opening a store in Fort Wayne much sooner than later, so you’re very likely to see TCB Games a lot more often,” he says.