Like most people, I’m wrong sometimes. Actually, I’m wrong quite a bit. I’m woman enough to admit it, and I can say that I was wrong about Gatekeeper Hobbies before this interview. What I expected to walk in and find was a store full of comic book bins, a throwback to the 80’s and the stores I knew and loved as a kid. And while the bins were ever present in the store, I quickly discovered that there was much more going on than I initially thought there would be.

I met with one of the owners of the store, Dustin Dean, and noticed that the passion he has for this business is so evident, it seems to flow through him as he speaks. In fact, he’s so excited about what he does it’s infectious to everyone around him, whether you’ve been a fan of comic books your entire life or never even picked up a copy of Archie. Dean believes that we are living in the Golden Age of comic book writing and believes that the writing styles can even be compared to some of the great novels, stating,

“It’s not just about guys in tights beating up criminally insane people anymore. There are love stories, stories that adults would enjoy and social stories that allow individuals to broaden their horizons and experience a world they wouldn’t have a chance to understand any other way. It’s not just the funny pages anymore. This is actual literature.”

However, comics are not the only thing Gatekeeper Hobbies has to offer. Role-playing games such as Warhammer and Dungeons and Dragons are also a popular draw to the business. Typically, a role-playing group is four or five people who are already good friends.

“It’s always been more about getting together with my friends than playing the game. I met my best friend here at the store. In fact, all of my closest friends have had some connection to the store at some point. The friendships you build here really are sustainable,” said Dean.

But don’t worry for a second if you’re new in town, the staff at Gatekeeper will put you on a list and help you find a group to play with.

The friendship behind the doors of Gatekeeper Hobbies is evident. The positive attitudes of both the staff and the patrons give the store a warm, “make yourself at home” vibe. Dean said that this is the atmosphere that he and the other owners were hoping for, saying, “While we sell things and we are a retail location, we try to build an entertainment place for people to come to. Like a coffee shop, we want you to come in and hang out and talk shop with us. We want people to come here and experience a place to hang out that’s not a bar and that’s not destructive. We want everyone to feel welcome, and view Gatekeeper Hobbies as an entertainment venue on top of just being a retail store, so we go out of our way to try to include people and encourage people to hang out here. The store is much more than just a store, it’s a destination.”

The kindness, friendship and ambition to provide a safe and fun place for both kids and adults to hang out makes Gatekeeper Hobbies a truly unique and spectacular business. As Stan Lee once said; “While no one is expected to leap tall buildings in a single bound, our aspiring heroes will be tested on their courage, integrity, self-sacrifice, compassion and resourcefulness—the stuff of all true superheroes.”

[ seveneightfive July 15 – Aug 31 | Kristen Veverka | photos by EJ Drake]