Barrow business 'levels up' with new premises

South Lakes Game Exchange has ‘levelled up’, moving to a brand new premises on Duke Street as their business expands. 

Scott and Jayde opened South Lakes Game Exchange in October 2024 on Cavendish Street, starting with “an idea and a lot of risk”, owner Scott said on his YouTube channel. Since then, the shop has gone from strength to strength, bringing something new to the high street and offering a unique experience for visitors to Barrow town centre.

Selling and trading retro games, consoles and more, South Lakes Game Exchange quickly became a hub for gamers. Regular competitions and in store arcade machines helped create a lively and engaging atmosphere for visitors.

After just a year and a half trading on Cavendish Street, the business was ready to expand, largely thanks to investment in products such as Pokémon cards and the success of its Pokémon trading events. The move to the former Furness Building Society premises on Duke Street marked a major step for the business, allowing it to expand and offer more of what customers want, including a dedicated Pokémon section within the store.

Describing the feedback of the new shop as ‘amazing’, owners Scott and Jayde are thankful to everyone who supported them in making this move. Scott said “Thank you so much to everyone who came to the opening of the new shop today, we genuinely never expected to see so many people take time out of their day to visit. We absolutely love the community we’ve built, and seeing 40+ people stood at the door when the shutters opened this morning was unreal!”

The business is growing in more ways than one, with its YouTube channel Game Shop Diaries increasing from 300 to over 1,000 subscribers in the space of a month. Sharing behind the scenes insights into running a retro game shop, the channel offers gamers a look at the day to day operations of South Lakes Game Exchange and the people behind it. This sense of openness from the owners is helping to build a growing community in Barrow, supporting the business as it continues to expand and bringing customers along on its journey.

As South Lakes Game Exchange continues to grow, building a strong sense of community and sharing that with customers remains a key focus. This behind the scenes approach is keeping customers engaged and connected with the business, something owners Scott and Jayde have embraced.

You can find South Lakes Game Exchange at 51-55 Duke Street, Barrow.