Fantasy Knights, a specialty bookstore in Albany,  was conceived in June of 2003 and launch later that year in November.  This was a long-time dream of Ernst Laemmert who is an active player in the fantasy video games.  When Ernst lost his job as a counselor in a social services agency,  he believed it was the time to launch the bookstore.   Fantasy Knights sells books, action figures, video games, and rents computer time for customers to play LAN or Internet games together.  Ernst contacted SCORE in June 2003 and he began a four-month process of writing the business plan with all its contents in great detail so that he could qualify for a loan to startup the business.  Ron Larson and Maury Cohn were his team of SCORE counselors initially,  and Ron Larson has been following up for continuing sessions.  SCORE counselor Ron Larson completed several reviews of the financial plan spreadsheets and this assisted in gaining approval for the needed loan to start the business.  Fantasy Knights has a steady positive cash flow with increasing sales each month.  The business turned a profit in the third month.  The Fantasy Knights bookstore appeals to the teenager as well as the young adults in their 20’s and 30’s.  This young adult segment has the available cash to spend and are driving up sales each month.