Written By: Cassandra England
At Saint Martin’s University, our school is surrounded by the great local & nearby businesses, in the environment of the Lacey and Olympia area. Some of our students’ favorite nearby haunts include The Wembley Soccer Shop and Gabi’s Olympic Cards and Comics.
The first shop worth mentioning is the Wembley Soccer Shop. It can be found on Pacific Avenue near Cash America Pawn at 3700 Pacific Ave SE Ste B, Olympia, WA 98501. The store boasts a wide array of soccer shoes, cleats, jerseys, & apparel, including customizable team uniforms, and other various soccer gear. Wembley Soccer Shop is even owned by the family of SMU student Benjamin Gress, a senior in Information Technologies.
To those looking to buy any soccer gear or memorabilia, The Wembley Soccer Shop is a perfect place for any sports-obsessed student! Kurt, the store’s owner, and Ben’s father, is always ready and able to answer all of your soccer-related questions and inquiries!
Gabi’s Olympic Cards & Comics has been a staple of the Lacey community for many years. The shop is home to a wide selection of comic books, graphic novels, board and card games, role-playing games, toys, and collectibles.
Some of the popular items our students have purchased from Gabi’s in the past include Funko Pops, model kits, Marvel comics, statues, and buttons to pin on their backpacks! Gabi’s Olympic Cards and Comics is a great place to meet new people through playing tabletop games such as Dungeons and Dragons, browsing comics, and going shopping with friends!
When asked what their favorite things to look for and purchase our students have replied with many different answers. Cassandra England often buys Funko Pops and single-issue comics from the establishment while Mia Moreno, another SMU student, buys manga, and student Ben Gress says he often buys Gundam model kits there.
Gabi, the store’s owner, always greets each customer with a warm smile and makes them feel right at home when they first come in. After a few visits, she even often knows you by name! In addition to the business, Gabi also uses her influence in the community for a good cause.
Her charity organization, “Gabi’s Kids”, provides aid to children, seniors, and folks in need by providing clothing, supplies, toys, and meals. The organization holds a toy drive each Christmas that provides gifts for underprivileged and low-income families during the holiday season.
For all these reasons and more, Gabi’s Cards and Comics is a wonderful place to browse, purchase gifts, and become immersed in a brand-new hobby! The shop provides something for everyone, whether you’re a hardcore Dungeons and Dragons player, a comic book collector, a Funko Pop aficionado, or a movie buff. When you think pop culture, you can find it at Gabi’s!
Gabi’s Olympic Cards & Comics can be found at 4230 Pacific Ave, Lacey, WA 98503 next to the Shur-Kleen Car Wash and across from Fred Meyer.
Gabi’s Olympic Cards & Comics and the Wembley Soccer Shop are just two of the many amazing locations near Saint Martin’s University. For more great local business recommendations, make sure to look out for the next article of “Shopping With The Saints” in the future!
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