A Holiday Letter From Zulu's Owner Matt Zaremba
Happy Holidays, Zulu's Family!
As we wrap up 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on just how extraordinary our community truly is. Every day, we’re reminded that Zulu’s isn’t great just because of the events we host or the products we offer—it’s great because of the people who sit at our tables. Whether you’ve been with us since the early days or discovered us for the first time this year, your enthusiasm, kindness, and passion for gaming shape everything we do.
This past year was unforgettable for tabletop gaming, and Zulu’s grew in every direction: events, community, conventions, and now, the biggest announcement in our history. None of this would be possible without you, and we are deeply grateful to be a part of your gaming life.
Trading Card Games (TCGs)
TCGs reached a whole new level this year, becoming one of the most exciting and fast‑growing parts of our community. The surge in popularity has been incredible to witness—lines of over 200 players wrapping around the block, sometimes twice in a single week. The passion, sportsmanship, and camaraderie during these big moments remind us why card gaming is such a powerful connector.
Our mega prereleases set new records, with over 600 players joining us across one weekend. These weren’t just events—they were celebrations, filled with energy, creativity, and a true festival atmosphere.
Beyond the big moments, we focused on making TCG play more accessible and more fun for everyone. We experimented with unique formats, introduced new community‑driven events, expanded casual play options, and kept pushing to give players fresh ways to experience the games they love.
From competitive tournaments to casual weeknight gatherings, the TCG community brought unbelievable enthusiasm this year, and it continues to grow because of the people who show up, support one another, and make Zulu’s feel like home.
Board Games
This was a massive year for board gaming at Zulu’s. Our team had a major presence at PAX West, PAX Unplugged, Gencon, and Essen Spiel, bringing home a wave of First Look titles, international hits, and rising indie gems.
We launched our Board Game League, which instantly became a community favorite, and strengthened our weekly offerings with consistently packed Monday and Tuesday Board Game Nights. I will be playing in the Ark Nova tournament in January and will be bringing my A game!
Your passion—late-night strategy debates, new friendships forming around tables, and the joy of discovering the next great game—pushed this category to new heights.
Role-Playing Games (RPGs)
The Zulu’s RPG community continued to support diverse and unique games and experiences this year. Across the Main Store and Event Center, we hosted daily RPG tables supported by dedicated community and employee GMs. Meanwhile, our online sessions helped players join the fun from anywhere.
Revised classics like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and Starfinder all did well, but so did smaller press games. Indie titles like Mythic Bastionland found exceptional success at our store, and several games made by members of the community were featured on our shelves.
We had great RPG events too! Our Youth D&D Summer Camp welcomed more than 80 young adventurers, exploring new stories each day alongside activities like trivia and miniature painting. Free RPG Day had a fantastic turnout, where we introduced new players to a variety of systems with learn‑to‑play sessions and giveaways.
RPGs remain a meaningful part of what makes Zulu’s special—bringing people together through shared stories and epic adventures.
Community Involvement
Zulu's is all about our community, and we take pride in supporting causes near and dear to the families we serve.
One of my favorite memories from this year was simple, fun, and purely "Zulu’s": my family, friends, and me running a hot dog stand and giving away free Pokémon and baseball cards to kids and families at Little League Celebration Day. It captured the heart of what we love most: creating small moments of joy that bring people together.
Throughout the year, we also continued supporting local groups and causes that matter to us and our community members. These included contributions to Child’s Play Charity, ongoing sponsorships with North Bothell Little League, support for the North Creek High School Class of 2025 and North Creek Cheer, participation in Team Ethan events, and collection efforts for Hopelink Food Bank.
These efforts aren’t things we spotlight often—they’re simply ways we try to give back to the community that has given so much to us. Zulu’s has always been more than a game store. It’s a small part of the larger Bothell ecosystem, and we’re grateful for every opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways.
The Big Announcement: Our New Flagship Store Opens in 2026
We’re beyond excited to share the biggest news in our company’s history: Zulu’s is working to open a brand-new flagship location in Bothell. We are working with the city and are under contract to buy a huge new location. Once we are locked in (fingers crossed), we will make and share the plan. This will be the largest game store in the Pacific Northwest—and one of the most ambitious gaming spaces in the country.
We do not plan on closing the main store on Main Street. We will be moving the Event Center, some shipping, and the back office into the new building. Over time, card singles and some events at the main store will also move down the street to the new location. Zulu’s Board Game Cafe on Main Street will continue to be a neighborhood gaming cafe, just with more open tables.
Our vision is bold:
To build the best game store on Earth, which will make Bothell a true gaming destination, and to give board gamers, TCG players, RPG fans, and families a place worth traveling for.
This is a milestone years in the making, and we can’t wait to build it with you.
Thank You
To our incredible community: thank you for being part of our journey. Thank you for trusting us with your game nights, your hobbies, your kids’ first D&D adventures, and your biggest competitive weekends.
Thank you for helping Zulu’s become what it is: a home for gamers of all kinds.
We are honored to be part of your lives, and we can’t wait to roll into the next chapter together. We hope to see you throughout 2026 as we continue growing, celebrating, and building something truly special with all of you. From our family to yours, we wish you a very happy holiday and a joyous new year.
– Matt Zaremba
Did you miss a Newsletter? Check out November's here, October's here, and September's here.
Thank you again for making Zulu's Board Game Cafe a special place!
