Chumleighs: 20+ years of Gaming and Collectibles

For more than two decades, Chumleighs has been a fixture in Downtown Belleville, welcoming gamers, collectors, and movie buffs since it first opened its doors on August 25, 2003.

Part of a small family-owned chain with locations in Peterborough and Kingston, Chumleighs has built a reputation for offering both the latest releases and nostalgic classics at prices that beat big-box stores and online competition.

Founded by Arie and Patricia Reedyk, Chumleighs originally started in Peterborough over 30 years ago before expanding into Belleville.

Today, Patricia still owns the business, while her son Russell manages operations.

What started years ago with furniture and second-hand items has since evolved into a specialty shop dedicated to video games, movies, and music—making it one of the longest-standing entertainment retailers in the region.

In Belleville, store manager Derek Stratton has been part of the team for more than eight years and now oversees the store’s day-to-day operations.

“I’m a big video game nerd, so dealing with video games all day is nice,” said Stratton.

Step inside Chumleighs and you’ll find video games and consoles from PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch titles to retro systems like the original NES and PlayStation.

A wide range of DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K discs also keep film lovers coming back.

Vinyl has surged back into popularity and remains a best-seller, along with CD’s and cassette tapes.

A newer addition that quickly became a hit with customers of all ages are Pokemon cards.

Chumleighs also goes beyond retail with specialized services such as disc resurfacing for scratched CDs or DVDs that won’t play, and game cartridge battery replacement.

Collectors also know Chumleighs is a place to discover hidden gems.

Recently, the store featured a rare Super Nintendo “Earthbound” game—complete in box with guide—for $2,500.

“It’s a very valuable game. It comes complete in the box, with a special player guide, and a “scratch and sniff” booklet,” Stratton said.

Other rare finds, like hard-to-get PlayStation titles such as “The Misadventures of Tron Bonne”, keep collectors coming back to see what’s new.

And it’s not just locals who shop here. Visitors from as far as Montreal, Prince Edward Island, and Ottawa make it a point to stop by.

After more than 20 years, Chumleighs continues to thrive by combining nostalgia with modern entertainment.