For over 25 years, Nick Kelley has been living out his passion for comics, cards, and games as the owner of a local shop, Chimp’s Comix. The journey wasn’t easy, with early struggles and the need to work a second job until 2012, but with determination and the backing of a dedicated community of fellow enthusiasts, Kelley’s dream endured. Photo by Maksym Hart.

By Maksym Hart
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Nick Kelley was just 7 years old when two childhood friends handed him his first comic book. By age 13, he was a daily fixture at Chimp’s Cards and Comix, the new comic book store in town. By 19, he owned it.

“I started hanging out and eventually asked if I could start helping out,” Kelley said.

Kelley officially took over the store in March 1998 after discovering the previous owner, Tony Clay, was planning to sell.

Despite his age, Kelley had already been preparing by working at McDonald’s, managing shifts, competing in Distributive Education Clubs of America business competitions, and learning from Clay himself.

“I saw a paper on the counter with the store’s value,” Kelley wrote in a blog post. “Tony said that he didn’t think (I) could come up with the money. I asked him to hold off and … I found the right people who believed in me.”

On his first day as owner, Kelley made just 35 cents, a sale that put “the fear into me real quick,” he said.

But instead of panicking, Kelley dug in, applying the business training he’d picked up at McDonald’s to manage inventory, balance the books and keep the shop afloat.

“I was honestly so worried (early on), I was even considering selling the business,” he reflected. “Looking back, I’m so thankful I didn’t. This is my passion, and I plan to keep going as long as the job and the customers will have me.”

Kelley’s passion for comics and games helped carry him through the early years. “This store is basically most of my hobbies in one place,” he said, listing comics, board games, card game Magic: The Gathering, and vintage video games among his lifelong interests. “I’ve been passionate about comics since I was a kid. It’s just a part of who I am.”

Juggling a second job at McDonald’s, and later, The Papers Inc., Kelley weathered setbacks, such as having much of his inventory stolen in 2004.
The thieves later attempted to sell their ill-gotten wares back to him, but many lost items had since been replaced with donations from regulars.

“I got humbled very quickly,” Kelley recalled. “When I asked (my customers) how much they wanted out of them … many of them said they wanted to donate them to get me back up and running.”

Kelley never chased popularity or trends for their own sake. Even when comics shifted drastically in the 2000s and Magic the Gathering saw fluctuating sales, he focused on fostering relationships, both with customers and friends, who often volunteered their time to help him sort cards, test games, and build community.

“I’ve made a lot of life-long friends over the years here,” Kelley said.

Now working solely at the shop, Kelley still makes time for his customers and his favorite titles.

“I’ve always been a DC guy,” he said, citing ‘Batman: The Long Halloween’ and ‘Hush’ as favorites.

Asked what advice he’d offer others hoping to turn a hobby into a business, Kelley didn’t sugarcoat it: “Find someone who’s knowledgeable on the products first … It’s a very risky thing, and I almost failed before I really got started. I got lucky and had a team of friends behind me all the way.”

After more than 25 years behind the counter, Kelley remains rooted in the community, not just as a business owner, but as someone who never stopped being a fan.

“It’s still fun for me,” he said. “That’s why I’m still here.”