If you’ve spent any time in the South Jersey tabletop scene, you know the drill. You find a shop, it’s got three dusty boxes of Magic cards, a "community" that feels like a private club, and a smells like a locker room. Top Deck Games Cherry Hill is basically the opposite of that.
Located right on Haddonfield-Berlin Road, it's one of those rare spots that actually lives up to the hype. I’m not just talking about having stock on the shelves—though they have a ton of it—it’s the vibe. It feels like a place where you can actually sit down, crack a pack, and not feel like you’re intruding on someone’s basement.
The Local Legend on Haddonfield-Berlin Road
Honestly, walking into Top Deck Games Cherry Hill for the first time is a bit of a trip. It’s spacious. Like, "actually have room to pull out a chair without hitting the guy behind you" spacious. Most local game stores (LGS) are cramped, but this place has a dedicated play area that puts most mall shops to shame.
The address is 1400 Haddonfield-Berlin Rd, Suite 100, and if you’re coming from Philly or deeper into Jersey, it’s a straight shot. They’ve been a cornerstone of the area for years, and while other stores have come and gone (RIP Nerdvana, though the EHT Top Deck location absorbed that energy), the Cherry Hill flagship remains the heart of the operation.
What Are People Actually Playing Here?
You’ll see the "Big Three" obviously: Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, and Yu-Gi-Oh!. But the variety is what keeps the regulars coming back.
Magic: The Gathering (The Bread and Butter)
If you’re a Commander player, Monday nights are your home. They run "Fill & Fire" pods starting around 5:00 PM. It’s simple—you show up, pay your ten bucks, and as soon as four people are ready, you get a pod and play for prizes.
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For the more competitive crowd:
- Tuesdays: Modern is the focus.
- Thursdays: Pioneer gets the spotlight.
- Fridays: Traditional Friday Night Magic (FNM) with Booster Drafts or more Commander.
They also host high-stakes events like the 2026 Top Deck Championship Series, which pulls in players from all over the tri-state area.
The Rise of Flesh and Blood
Not every shop "gets" Flesh and Blood (FAB), but Top Deck does. They’re a heavy hitter for FAB in Jersey. Every Monday at 6:30 PM, they run Classic Constructed, and Saturdays at the same time are for the "Silver Age" format. They even host Road to Nationals events, which are serious business for anyone trying to go pro.
Pokémon and More
Pokémon Trainers usually take over on Tuesday nights for Standard format tournaments. It’s a mix of younger kids and "master" rank players who take the meta very seriously. Beyond that, you’ll find:
- Star Wars: Unlimited (This has been exploding lately).
- Disney Lorcana (Still has a very dedicated weekly following).
- Warhammer 40k and Age of Sigmar (The miniatures section is surprisingly deep).
The Community Vibe (Is it actually friendly?)
Look, we’ve all been to the "Gatekeeper Store." The place where the staff doesn't look up from their phones and the locals stare at you like you're an alien.
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Top Deck Games Cherry Hill generally avoids this. The staff—led by guys like Nick Coss and Dave Unni—actually know their stuff. If you walk in and ask for a specific common from a set that came out three years ago, they don’t just point at a box; they usually know exactly where it is.
One thing that’s kinda cool is the "Free Play" policy. As long as there isn't a massive 100-person tournament taking over the floor, you can usually just grab a table with your friends and play for free. That’s getting rarer and rarer these days as stores try to monetize every square inch of floor space.
Real Talk: The Logistics
If you’re planning a trip, keep these hours in mind because they stay open late, which is a godsend for people with 9-to-5 jobs.
- Monday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Parking: It’s a plaza. There is plenty of it. You won’t be circling the block for twenty minutes like you would in Philly or Collingswood.
Food: You’re in Cherry Hill. There is a Wawa nearby (obviously), and plenty of fast-casual spots. Most people just grab a hoagie and eat it in their car between rounds.
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The "Secret" to Navigating Top Deck
If you want to get the most out of this place, get the apps. For Magic, you need the Companion App. For Flesh and Blood, have your GEM account ready. For the bigger independent tournaments, they often use TopDeck.gg.
Don’t be the person who shows up five minutes before round one without your decklist or the right app downloaded. The judges are fair, but they keep a tight ship to make sure events actually end on time.
Why It Still Matters in 2026
With the rise of digital gaming (Arena, TCGPlayer, etc.), people keep saying the "Local Game Store" is dying. But you can't trade a physical Masterpiece Mana Vault over Discord, and you certainly can't feel the tension of a Top 8 cut from your couch.
Top Deck Games Cherry Hill works because it’s a "third place." It’s not home, it’s not work, it’s just where the games happen. Whether you’re trying to grind for a Pro Tour invite or you just want to play some casual jank with your friends, it’s probably the most reliable spot in the South Jersey/Philly bubble.
Actionable Next Steps for New Players
- Check the Calendar: Don't just show up on a Wednesday expecting a specific tournament. Check their official site or the Wizards Event Link first.
- Join the Discord: Most of the local "meta" talk and trade requests happen in their community Discord server. Ask a staff member for the invite link next time you're in.
- Bring Your Trades: Their "Buy List" is usually pretty fair, and they often give a 20-30% bonus if you take store credit instead of cash.
- Register Early: For big events like the Road to Nationals or Championship Series, pre-register online. These events have caps and they do sell out.