Building on my earlier question about how you’d invest $50K into your current business, let me pivot slightly: What business would you run if you didn’t have to worry about profitability or cash flow? I don’t mean something extreme, like starting a pharmaceutical company and giving everything away for free. Think more along the lines of a passion project, a beloved hobby, or a dream that’s been quietly simmering since you were 20. Maybe it’s a restaurant showcasing your family’s generations-old recipes, or a niche shop for your favorite collectibles.
My dream business would be a comic book, collectible card game, and board game store. I still remember the excitement of buying my first comic book and falling in love with the storytelling and artistry of the medium. Over the years, I’ve seen too many brick-and-mortar comic shops struggle and close their doors, victims of a cutthroat market dominated by online retailers.
There’s something special about the atmosphere of a physical store: people playing Pokémon or Magic: The Gathering at communal tables, others browsing shelves of comics and graphic novels, and the joy of discovering something new with fellow enthusiasts. Digging through long boxes of back issues, chatting with the person across the table, is a far richer experience than scrolling through an online inventory.
What keeps many of these stores alive today are the dual-purpose spaces—selling and hosting games and tournaments for collectible card games like Magic and Pokémon, or showcasing modern board games like Ticket to Ride and Settlers of Catan. It’s not just about the products; it’s about the community, the shared experiences, and the connections formed around the hobbies we love.
I’d absolutely try to make it a viable business, but knowing that breaking even would be enough to sustain it would make the dream feel attainable. It wouldn’t just be a store; it would be a space for people to connect, share their passions, and keep these hobbies alive and thriving.
