NAPOLEONS - CLOSING FOR GOOD!

[jj]

(TNN) - With a saddened heart I must announce what I and only a handful of others have known for some weeks now --- "Napoleons" - Fritz's (Ramses') wonderful game/hobby store -- will be closing and going out of business! The story is now public - there is an article in today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about it, and none other than yours truly will be penning one for Shepherd Express, to be published in a couple of weeks.
Fritz has announced that he cannot make a go of it anymore, thanks to e-shopping (Amazon, Ebay, etc.) and the rising interest in computer games over board games (BAH I say, BAH on computer games!) as reasons.

Well, I'm sure he'll sound off here if and when he feels up to it. Napoleons has been in business here in Milwaukee, corrupting youth for something like 25 years! Yet it took computers to kill it when nothing else could.

At any rate, the monthly "Immigration Day" meetings will have to find a new venue if they are not going to die with the store, but rest assured, such a decision need not be made until April approaches. The Feb. 13th date is still on, and one is likewise scheduled for March 13th.

I bought many of my first wargames at Napoleons...probably first stepping foot in there sometime in 1980 or '81... I remember this entertaining, funny (if sometimes a tad odd...) bearded fellow behind the desk in the "old" Napoleons that was actually in sacred Talossan soil. I was a repeat customer as the years went on and got to know the owner more or less by osmosis. I am glad that that friendship will survive the store.

It's sad to see things like this happen, though, and they are happening all around us in the "wonderful" computer age. What is the saying...seems so appropriate in this context.... ah, yes....

SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI

[markymark]

Although never having the opportunity to visit Napoleons, I am also saddened to hear about the closing of this store. It is depressing to learn that one of my fellow citizens is about to lose their business due to silly computers.

While computers may have provided some benefits to the world, the negatives far outweigh the positives. One only has to look at the decrease in personal communications and human interactions. Everything is computerized now, with less and less opportunities to speak to people. Just look at banks, how many people actually go to a teller, when going to a teller is just as quick as going to an ATM?

Everyone seems to be in a rush and family businesses are being taken over by large corportations. Who knows how many people have lost their jobs as a result of computers? I am certain that more jobs have been lost than jobs created as a result of computers.

Well, I am starting to rant and I am about to fall asleep, maybe from too much medication over the last few days. I wish Fritz all the best.

[Lord Q]

What terrible news! I wish Fritz good luck.

[kri]

Azul,

Yep, I.M. and I have known about this since January. This is indeed a sad day for all of Milwaukee. The business part of it can be replaced, at least for us consumers; the internet has taken over wargame sales and stores like Napoleon's just can't compete.

But the community aspect is what will be sorely missed. For the gaming side of it, Fritz is already talking about other plans, which we hope to see come to fruition. Certainly whatever we can do to help locally, we'll do!

As for the Talossan side of it, Immigration Day will continue beyond the three scheduled events at Napoleon's (this coming Sunday, 13 Feb, and Sunday, 13 March). Right now we're pursuing a variety of possibilities for a regular monthly location, and should be able to pull this off.

Napoleon's has been a part of my life since November of 1980 when I bought "World War II: European Theater of Operations," my very first wargame. I remember it was November of 1980 because it was the same time as the Cone Wars!

I remember the old store located in Vuode Province before it moved up to Shorewood in the early 1980s. Fritz and I have known each other now for 25 years and I only regret that I wasn't able to entice him into Talossa earlier. The "1898 Campaign," a sort of national-level role-playing game that I.M. and I ran in the winter of 1984, was hosted in the vast basement of Napoleon's and continued for about six months. That game was where we both met Wes Erni, and through Wes, we met Geoff Toumayan, Jack Schneider, and Tom Buffone -- between them, FOUR future prime ministers of Talossa! We can thank Napoleon's for that, and for all the friendships it has created over the years.

I will miss the store terribly. On 13 March, our last Immigration Day at that location will be held. I expect to have a location for the April Immigration Day by that time. Talossa's ties with the store will formally end that day, with the playing of the national anthem and the lowering of El Bicoloreu, our national flag which flies there even as we speak.

Best of luck to Fritz and Jason!

Ben

[Lord Q]

Given the historical significance of the store, maybe there should be a holiday dedicated to it.

[jj]

I agree... a PD would be nice.

I can't remember with exactitude when I first went to the little hole-in-the-wall Nappy's when it was on Webster & Downer in the RT...sometime later than Ben did (oddly enough). But I do remember buying SPI's second edition of "War in the East" there for $20 -- that would have been 81-82-ish... I know I bought others as well. Fritz was nearly always there...unless perhaps someone was kibbitzing for him. But anyway, he was a character, I recall. Friendly, gregarious, a tad odd... nice to know somethings never change!! LOL

The Nappy's that existed after the move to its present location north of the RT (the "Northern Territories" which Talossa was supposed to annex but never did) became a sight to behold. First, it was quite small, but gradually, Fritz annexed his neighboring stores as they came and went... DRANG NACH NORDEN, hey Fritz!?

The sense of community - that's what the Internet and the computer have killed. In a larger sense, it makes you wonder what sort of people today's kids will be... having grown up playing computer games alone instead of a board game with friends and family, e-mailing instead of talking or getting together with friends and family... it's a little scary to think of the asocial or even anti-social misfits that the internet and computer may be creating. God, I hope not but it's worth worrying about and trying to do something about.

So long, Napoleons! You will be greatly missed but forever and ever in many hearts and memories!! And best of all, FRITZ isn't going anywhere!!

PS I will have an article published in another local paper in two weeks. Once it's gone to press I'll share it here.

[Rajala]

I had the great honor of helping Fritz place his entire Grande Armee of close to 6000 25-28mm figures on the gaming table in the basement. It was a magnificent sight to behold! There is a story behind every regiment. I had the honor of painting one of the most elite units in the army as well as several other special requests from Fritz for figures to meet certain needs. My most memorable has to be the 7th Hussars, a unit that was left unfinished by the original artist. He had completed 18 figures in the 27 man cavalry unit. There were 9 to go. I matched the colors by figuring out which brand of paint was used for each color and did my best to complete the final 9 cavalrymen to match the original artist. They were mixed in with the first 18 and to this day I don't think anyone can tell the unit was painted by 2 people. Such are the things that make men remain little boys at heart.
It has taken me about 20 years to paint enough troops to have my own army on the table and now the guy goes and closes the store on me(smiling). The first time I visited the store it was just a tiny little shop on Webster Place. All of this will hit me one day when I wake up with plans to visit Napoleon's and there really isn't anywhere to go. Not to worry, my friend, we will battle another day at times and places to be determined. Napoleon's might not be there, but my friend will.

[Baron Fritz von Buchholtz]

What can I say to express the feelings I have? Emotional? Too much so. When I started that little store so long ago I never dreamed it would turn good customers into great friends. And now I get calls from children offering me their allowances if I would not close. I see people standing in front of the store having their pictures taken. And the endless laughing and crying as old stories are told and remembered. I am fortunate but feel I have let so many of you down. If I have disappointed you please forgive me. I did my best. On the 15th everything will be marked down 50% for the stores final 30 days. All the paintings, swords, uniforms, even the sign in the window will be sold. Calls are coming in from as far away as Minneapolis and Chicago so please come in and take a little bit of Napoleons home with you. And thank you all so very much.
Off to Elba, Fritz

[Xhorxh Asmour]

When something so sad like this happens at least we are relieved to find out that we have made many more friends than we thought. Well done, Fritz!

[Rajala]

A note in here from Fritz expresses the feeling he may have let people down and disappointed some. I couldn't disagree more. Fritz's store and most important his personality behind it provided enjoyment for many people for various amounts of time from one day to many years. He has not let a single one of them down. I have lost nothing, and gained so much.

[Xhorxh Asmour]

Look up, Fritz. Making a brand-new start can be one of the most fascinating things in life, even at almost 60...

[jj]

Fritz, you've let NO ONE down. What has happened is an inevitablity, as you explained, and of course, IF there would be a way out of this, you'd have taken that course. You are NOT to blame, it's just the way things are. Look at the positives.

"Off to Elba, Fritz"

And Elba is much closer and friendlier than St. Helena!!

[kri]

> > "Off to Elba, Fritz"

> And Elba is much closer and friendlier than St. Helena!!

Bah! I.M. you beat me to it, I was going to say that.

Ben