Hermiston Couple Opens Fusion Games, Bringing Warhammer Nights to Oregon

Izzy Stiefel has been gaming since he was seven years old. His father, "a really big nerd" in Izzy's own words, first pulled him into the tabletop hobby, and the passion never left. Now, Izzy and his wife Dazua are turning it into a business: Fusion Games opens April 14 at 892 S. Highway 395 in Hermiston Plaza, bringing dedicated Warhammer nights and free table time to a corner of eastern Oregon that has had few options for in-person play.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," Izzy said. "It's a passion of mine. I've been into the hobby since I was 7. My dad was a really big nerd and he got me into it."

The store will stock Warhammer, Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, Pokemon cards, and similar games, with a floor plan built around event nights rather than pure retail. The clearest signal to local 40k players is a dedicated room with a large Warhammer table, open at no charge to anyone who walks through the door.

"We have a large table for Warhammer," Dazua said. "People can come in and play at no cost. We have a room where they set up and play. We also are going to have family game nights where you can come in and play."

The Stiefels are keeping the barrier to entry as low as possible for players who are curious but not yet ready to commit to a full army purchase. "You can come in and play it and see if it's a game for you without spending any money," Izzy said.

Dazua came to gaming after meeting Izzy and brings a newcomer's perspective to how they plan to run the space. "We're open to feedback from the community if they want a specific game we don't have," she said. The event calendar will include trivia nights for adults and children alongside the regular game nights.

Fusion Games will be Hermiston's second specialty game store. Table Top Titans, at Cornerstone Court on Highway 395, already carries role-playing and collectible card games. Izzy is not bothered by the competition. "There's not a lot of real good places around here that sell board games," he said. "It's kind of a niche market, but it's growing."

A soft opening runs April 10 for invited friends and whoever happens to walk by, with the official grand opening following on April 14. Store hours run noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. Fusion Games is at 892 S. Highway 395 in Hermiston Plaza.