On January 2nd, Dan Gilkey and Doranna Benker-Gilkey lost their store, Dandar's Boardgames and Books, in the fire that destroyed an entire block of downtown Arcata.

Dandar's opened its doors in August 2019 in the Valley West area. The store survived the pandemic and as restrictions were lifted, a gaming table was made available. In May 2025, the store moved to a much larger location on H Street in Downtown Arcata.

The store flourished In this new location. Gaming events were offered. Doranna left her day job to assist Dan in running the store. Hours were extended so more community game nights could be offered. Recently, Dan and Doranna were excited to welcome Karina on board as their first employee.

The building that housed the store has been demolished. All merchandise as well as electronic devices are gone. The store is Dan and Doranna's sole source of income, and they are eager to find a new location for Dandar's.

Please help us Re-Store Dandar's Boardgames and Books. This small niche business offers not just fun games and books for friends and family to enjoy, but it also serves the community as a one-of-a-kind welcoming hub where folks can gather.