The proprietor of the Lookin’ For Heroes comedian e book retailer is celebrating 35 years in enterprise.
John Brenner opened Lookin’ For Heroes in Kitchener, a reputation recommended by his mom, on Sept. 5, 1989.
“I always hoped that it would be something that I would do for the rest of my life. And it’s turned out that way,” Brenner stated.
An avid comedian collector, Brenner began promoting comics from his giant private assortment in 1979. Realizing he may flip his ardour right into a profession, Brenner went on to open the shop ten years later. The shop moved items at one time however has all the time been alongside Ontario St.
John Brenner sits inside the unique Lookin’ For Heroes retailer in Kitchener in 1989.
Brenner stated enterprise has been constant over time, however they’ve needed to adapt to what’s standard within the trade. He stated the expansion of the town has additionally resulted in a progress in prospects.
“We’ve become more of a bookstore. We used to be kind of a specialty shop that there was a community of people that were into comics. Now it’s a lot more mainstream. So we see just everybody and the graphic novel has become a big part of the store,” John Brenner stated.
Now Brenner is seeking to flip the web page and is passing the enterprise on to his son Jacob.
“If I can get a photo locking up the door in 35 years, I’ll be more than happy to,” Jacob Brenner, a supervisor at Lookin’ For Heroes stated.
The shop is a couple of yr and a half older than Jacob, so it’s all the time been in his life. He began incomes an allowance working on the retailer when he was simply 10-years-old, however stated he knew it was his future.
Proprietor John Brenner and son Jacob Brenner stand contained in the Lookin’ For Heroes retailer in Kitchener on Sept. 6, 2024. (Colton Wien/)
“[I] tried some other stuff, wanted to try auto co-ops and stuff like that. But I always knew this was kind of going to bring me back,” Jacob Brenner stated.
“I get to talk about Batman and hockey all day. So it’s pretty great. The people that come in here are awesome,” Jacob stated.
The Brenners say in contrast to different industries which have transitioned to primarily on-line gross sales, comedian followers favor to go to a bodily retailer. Loyal prospects typically simply need to discuss comics or flush out their pull checklist by requesting sure titles be introduced in. Prospects like Dave Monteith attempt to come into the store about as soon as a month.
“Well, for the comics. I’ve been coming here since about 1989,” Monteith stated.
Different staff do not appear keen to depart both. Alex Phillips is answerable for stock and a few advertising on the retailer. He began on the retailer in highschool, helped out by way of faculty, and in the end pursued a special profession. However when the shops very long time supervisor Duane Messner handed away final yr, Phillips got here again to assist.
“I basically quit my other job to do this because it’s just something that I’ve loved for years. And initially I was just coming in to help out. And then once I was here, I was like, ‘Man, I really missed this,’” Phillips stated.
Phillips stated he loves the trade, however it’s the interactions with prospects that make his day.
“Every day I wake up looking forward to coming in and just dealing with people,” Phillips stated.
Now with a powerful staff for the long run, John is aware of his retailer is in good palms.
“When you have a store, you’re here seven days a week, you’re always doing this. So I’m having the opportunity now to kind of ease back and let these guys have fun with this place, because I have for 35 years,” Brenner stated.
