06/14/2026
It’s June 14th and that means Paradox Comics-N-Cards opened 33 years ago today.
Yesterday, during Nerdy Rummage Sale, I reminisced over the pre-Paradox days of my life. Our event yesterday drew well over 2000 attendees to our outdoor marketplace. There were more than 60 vendor booths and that was what had me flashing back to days gone by. The first thing I ever did on my own in anything even remotely resembling a professional capacity was buying a booth at a ValleyCon in south Moorhead circa 1991 or 1992. I hauled over my unsorted, dirty, shabby, collection of long boxes that represented my nerdy comic shop upbringing. But I managed to sell a copy of Magnus Robot Fighter #1 that I paid cover price for, maybe $1.95?, for $30 and I felt like a mad genius. There are a lot of moments that brought Paradox to life, but that one stands out. It was maybe the first time in my life I felt like I was good at something and I chased that feeling.
The idea that now I’m hosting vendor events and someone there is having that same experience, feeling that same sensation, and the future of nerd businesses is alive and well, I’d say thriving, is surreal.
I can’t say thank you enough to everyone I’ve met these past three plus decades, everyone who has taken a chance on Paradox, from customers to staff to vendors to business partners to distributors to manufacturers and so so many more people, I’m driving the boat but you all had to be there to make this happen.
I’m 56, 33 years in to this crazy journey, and I still feel like the best days are ahead. Do you feel like that in your life? I hope so. I’ll know it’s time to retire when I lose that feeling but that is a long time off. You wouldn’t believe the list of things I want to make happen next.
This picture was taken the first night we were open at 814 Main Avenue on August 1st 2024, the first day of our new adventure after leaving our long time home at 26 Roberts St. It’s one of my favorites of the new place.
And we’re back at it today with another great Sunday Game Day, with a learn to play Magic: the Gathering event, and so much more. Thanks for reading this way too long rambling post and see you soon!