Stay Gnarly & Geek Out!

While the countryside has a lot to offer our community, there usually isn’t much to go on when it comes to a geek culture. Many must travel to bigger cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg, or Durban for sought-after collectables or to attend fandom events. 

But there is hope: The Gnarly Griffin, which has made Hilton its new nest. It’s a “one-stop shop” of retail, gaming, and community-focused experiences that centre around all things nerd/geek and pop culture.

It was started by Ryan Daniels and Juan Miller in 2022, with assistance from Juan’s wife, Bianca. It was initially only an online retail business with the team attending local markets and hosting board game nights. These slowly started to build a supportive community. They eventually opened their physical store in June 2025 in Hilton Avenue. “We initially started in a small space, but by February of 2026, we were able to expand the store to accommodate the growing community. I have said it a few times. It was the community’s passion and resilience that endured the small space, which allowed us to eventually expand the store. For this, we are very grateful to the community. They are all Gnarly!” shared Juan.

The name is inspired by the idea of capturing both the fantasy side of the business and the gaming culture that inspired it. “‘Griffin’ immediately stood out because it’s a legendary fantasy creature that represents adventure, imagination and wonder. We added some personality by using the word ‘Gnarly’. And when abbreviated, you would have GG. In gaming culture, GG means ‘Good Game’, which is used by players after they have finished a match as a sign of respect and sportsmanship, and we hear it mentioned at the shop daily,” explained Juan.

The Gnarly Griffin has something for everyone, from comic books, fantasy novels, collectables, trading card games like Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Magic: The Gathering, LEGO, a variety of board games, Funko Pops!, and more. It offers a space for complete beginners and expert-level or veteran gamers. “Our community consists of school learners, university students, working adults, parents, and collectors. More importantly, the store provides a safe and welcoming environment where people can relax, socialise, and enjoy hobbies they are passionate about without feeling out of place,” explained Juan.

Tournaments

For those who love trading card games, The Gnarly Griffin hosts monthly tournaments and organises events for trading card games like Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Magic: The Gathering. There are weekly trading card game nights on Fridays. They also host prerelease events for the above, which is exciting for players as they get a chance to see the products before their official street release.

Dungeons & Dragons

If this is your thing, here you can join the table and become part of a local community to play with. Events are hosted monthly and welcome all, from novices to seasoned campaigners.

Warhammer

Fans of this iconic game have a place here, too, and The Gnarly Griffin is continuing to grow this community, including tabletop miniature gaming.

Board Games

If you want to meet new friends, play something new, or something you already know, the weekly board game nights on Thursdays are perfect. This is also recommended for newcomers who might be unsure where to start. Try a casual board game and meet the rest of the Gnarly community. Often, newcomers might feel nervous because they feel pressured to have prior knowledge or experience of geek culture, but that’s not required at all. 

“The community here is incredibly welcoming, and many of our regular players genuinely enjoy teaching others new games, or helping people discover new hobbies, or simply helping to feel included,” shared Bianca.

The Gnarly team remains committed to growing the store. “As it stands, Hilton is Gnarly Griffin's home, but we hope that the Griffin will take flight and eventually spread to other cities,” shared Juan. For more information about how to join an event or game, you can visit the store, which is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, or join a designated WhatsApp group chat to stay updated with local news and events.

http://www.thegnarlygriffin.com