“Welcome back!” is what you’ll always hear when you enter The Basement…Even if it’s your first time visiting North Bossier’s geek haven.
“I always say that no matter who it is. I want people to feel welcomed and comfortable, and have them enjoy their hobby,” said owner Chris Sullivan.
The veteran-owned business located at 4116 Airline Dr., Bossier City, is aimed at locals who love board games, classic video games, model building, and pop culture collectibles.
“I retired from the military after 21 years,” Sullivan said. “This place was my dream. I just want to make enough to keep the doors open and give people a chance to have fun and meet other like-minded people in a safe, comfortable space.”
Housed in a small strip mall near the corner of Airline Drive and Brownlee Road, The Basement gives seasoned and beginning collectors the ability to relax on a couch and play the 80s version of Super Mario Bros. or commandeer a table for friends to indulge in Dungeons and Dragons.
“I had always wanted to do this but then reality hits, life goes on, and you give up on it,” Sullivan said. “After I got out of the Air Force, my wife wanted me to relax but after six months of doing nothing, I couldn’t do that. I could get another job or follow my dream and now it’s exactly what I wanted it to be.”
Whether you’re a seasoned gamer, a collector, or someone just looking to discover the world of hobbies, The Basement aims to be the neighborhood hub for fun.
“When I was growing up, there was a huge store that had everything. No matter what you were interested in, you could go and find something. I had that memory as a child and wanted to replicate that here,” said Sullivan.
He chose the location, previously a car repair shop, for his first brick-and-mortar store because it spoke to him. Sullivan said he aimed for a classic video store, Blockbuster vibe.
“We looked all over and this one appealed to me. There was something about it where I could see its potential,” he said. “This was not a place anyone could open a gaming store. We had to do renovations, but it went quick — we started in November 2023 and opened in March 2024.”
Although he traveled the globe while in the Air Force, Sullivan chose Bossier to settle down because of his children.
“I was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base when I retired, my kids were settled, and I wanted to give them the stability they hadn’t had before,” he said. “Bossier is quiet, you get just enough of the Louisiana way of life, and there’s everything I could want within driving distance.”
Sullivan added that the Bossier business community has been tremendous as well.
“Bossier City was really great for helping me get started,” Sullivan said. “I was surprised at the business community, I didn’t’ realize how much the local business owners support each other.”
Meanwhile, customers are excited to have a new outlet in their own backyard.
“We’re the only store of this kind over here. That is one of things people always tell me, ‘We needed this,’” said Sullivan.
While he is excited that word is getting out about The Basement, Sullivan wants to stay a hidden gem. He defines success not in monetary terms, but in helping people.
“Success is getting people to come in and hang out. I’ve had whole families come in and spend time together. I just want people to connect over gaming,” he said.