Sidell, 25, now operates Rachel's Game Station at 112 West Main Street, inside Two Wolves Metaphysical Store near the Carter County Justice Center.
(Click on photos to enlarge)
"I wanted to study electrical engineering - PC board design and board electronics," Sidell said, explaining she was enrolled at a local secondary school, although those classes were more oriented toward wiring for homes and offices.
"Finances prevented me from continuing. So, I decided to self study and found that to be much faster," she said, noting she combined online resources "and YouTube" to advance her electronics knowledge.
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Almost from the start, Sidell said she began seeking broken electronics and applying her lessons.
"I picked up a broken X-Box One at a pawn shop. I got it opened up and found only minor water damage. I soldered a couple of spots and it worked like brand new! Then I started getting X-Box 360s - I bought three of them and fiddled with them."
The owners of Two Wolves Metaphysical Store, who have played an important role in Sidell's life . offered her a single shelf near the back of their shop, she said. She was soon encouraged to expand her territory to the back of the former jewelry store, and to add items of interest to "the gaming community" and other specialties.
"There's no nerd shop in Grayson," Sidell said with a chuckle as she described her inventory now ranging from Harry Potter items, to supplies for card games including Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh and Dungeons & Dragons, as well as fantasy blades, movie-related collectibles and specialty jewelry.
"It's fantasy and nerd-cult jewelry," she said, smiling and adding, "This place is a blend of Harry Potter with metaphysical, magic and nerd stuff."
Vintage video game systems, along with accessories such as controllers and game cartridges/discs, are likely the most in demand things at Rachel's Game Station. The Playstation 4 console is often asked for, Sidell said, and customers tend to have "Pokemon, Zelda and Mario" games at the top of their wish lists.
"I buy broken and used (devices) and try to give a fair price for them," Sidell said, adding her offers must be limited to amounts which allow her at least a small return upon repair and resale. "I also like the idea of keeping electronics out of the landfill. I just enjoy restoring life to electronic devices."
Sidell also has a selection of laptop computers she has refurbished, and notes she is open to attempting practically any electronic repairs.
"I enjoy tending to our garden. We just finished all of our canning," she said, adding she plans to build a "tiny house" on the family's 14-acre farm near Grayson.
"I'm a repair technician too. I work on cell phones and replace screens. I take requests," she said.
Rachel's Game Station is open five days a a week, from Noon until 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and from 12-5 Sunday. For more information, call 606.316.1337 or visit the shop's Facebook page at:
Story and Photos by TIM PRESTON
Carter County Post