Address: 1 Wolsley St, York, YO10 5BQ
Description
A light blue rectangular ghost sign features the iconic cartoon character Sonic the Hedgehog, with ‘Charlies’ above and ‘Games’ below in bold white letters. Contact information lines the bottom of the sign.
History
Before becoming Charlies Games, the building housed Lockwoods Post Office. In the late 20th century, it transformed into a video game store known as Charlies Games, a haven for gamers in York.
York phone numbers expanded from five digits to six in 1982, confirming that Charlies Games was operational at least from that year onward.
Although listed in directories as a domestic appliance servicing and repair shop, Charlies Games was primarily a haven for video game enthusiasts.
It became famous for allowing customers to try out different video games before purchasing, and was a great place for kids with limited funds to trade Sega Mega Drive, Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation 1, and Nintendo 64 games.
Sega dreamcast and popular games
The shop also offered a reliable source of import games and unique titles not commonly found elsewhere.
The iconic sign must have been painted after 1991, as it features Sonic the Hedgehog, who debuted that year.
In the United Kingdom, Sonic quickly became the top-selling Mega Drive game for two months after its release.
By the end of 1991, it was the best-selling home video game worldwide, with 2 million copies sold, and became Sega’s best-selling game up to that point.
The box of the first Sonic the Hedgehog game in 1991
Charlies Games even expanded to Newcastle, offering the same services there. However, the owners eventually sold the business and moved to Spain, leaving behind a legacy of joyful gaming memories in York.
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