Video game enthusiast sells part of own collection to finance new megastore

A Susquehanna Valley man is taking his passion for video games and collectibles to a whole new level.Zac Gieg dreamed of owning a video game store since he was a kid.”I started setting up at flea markets when I was 9 with my grandfather, and by the time I was 12, I had my own flea market stand,” he said.That led to his Just Press Play stores across the area.But Gieg and his team knew they wanted to offer more. The mega-collector turned to his own stash, selling a rare Super Mario Bros. and a Stadium Events game.”It is the rarest game for that system because they recalled it before it ever actually released,” he said.He made $275,000 and bought a 20,000-square-foot space in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County.Right now, it’s filled with collectibles of all kinds. Soon it will feature event and retail spaces.”It’s going to be awesome and epic,” general manager Michael MacEntee said.He hopes the space will become a destination.”Hey, you brought your kids to see Amish Country. Well, here’s the icing on the cake, right?” he said.The team wants others to get the same joy out of gaming they do, so Gieg recently sold more of his personal collection to help make that happen.Still, there is one thing he’s not parting with: his gold Nintendo World Championships cartridge. Only 14 still exist. “It is one of the most prized possessions you could have as a Nintendo collector,” he said.JPP Warehouse SaleCustomers can get their first look at the store this weekend.Just Press Play is holding a sale at the warehouse at 2007 Lincoln Highway East.It’s from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.