Chris Simons stood in a pizza place about to apply for an assistant manager’s position. It was the height of the recession, and he’d been laid off two years earlier from his management job at a large shipping company. He considered the application in his hand, turned and left. “I couldn’t do it. Being laid off — it was crushing. I couldn’t bear the thought of that happening again. To succeed or fail, I wanted it to be on me.” Back at home, combing through Craigslist for jobs, he came across an ad for some old comics. “I used the last $400 from that week’s unemployment check to buy some comics from the 1960s, did some research, and sold them two days later for $2,000. I was hooked, and it’s been like a snowball effect since then.”
Name: Chris Simons.
Residence neighborhood: Uptown Village, Vancouver.
Business name: I Like Comics, 1715 Broadway, 360-852-8890, ilikecomicsonline.com
Age: 45.
Educational/professional background: I grew up in Medford, Ore., and attended Portland Community College. I worked in a comic shop from age 13 to 18, but when I married and had kids, I knew it was time to put childish things away. Now and then I would go buy funny books with the kids but I didn’t really go to any stores until I saw the ad on Craigslist. I opened I Like Comics on Fourth Plain in 2010. We relocated to our Broadway store in December 2014.
Personal/business philosophy: We are here and successful only because of our hard-working customers. My goal is to have an oasis of brightly colored escapism for all of the I Like Comics community to enjoy. Work hard, act with integrity, and always be a student of your profession. This is what we do every day at I Like Comics.
Your customers: Most people assume our customers are a lot of teenaged boys and young men, but that was a stereotype of the ’80s. Our customers transcend race and age and reflect the diversity of comic books. Whatever you’re looking for — laughing, crying — there’s a comic book for that. We’ve always had good guys and bad guys. Today’s comic book characters are just the Greek and Roman gods of modern times.
Most rewarding part of job: Seeing kids getting their first comics and the look on the parents’ faces when they see how excited their children are about reading.
Most challenging part of job: Trying to read every comic book in the store.
One thing readers might find surprising about your work: I could actually dress up as a superhero every day and not only would people not think I was crazy, but it would lend to my credibility.
One thing you’d like people to know about your work: It’s every bit as awesome of a way to make a living as you’d think it would be.
Best feature of my Clark County community: I love the fact that it truly is a community. Every day I spend here I feel like I’m home. I’ve fallen in love with being in downtown saying “hi” to my neighbors. It’s how I always wanted things to be when I got older.
What would make your community a better place: It’s always about the people. The more people who are involved in downtown activities, the better. There are so many great activities from weekly events like the farmers market to yearly events like Sip and Stroll.
Your favorite travel destination and type: Since my wife and I leave for Paris in a few days, I’ll say France.
Your favorite restaurant/pub/coffee shop/store: I can’t imagine a world without Provecho or the Old Ivy Brewery & Taproom.
Hobbies: To no one’s surprise, I collect comic books.
Most enjoyable book/play/movie/arts event in past 12 months: Seeing the mayor dressed as Superman for the Kiggins Theatre production of an original Superman old-time radio broadcast was awesome!
Something you’d like to do this year/within five years: I have the same goal for one, five, or 30 years: Give Vancouver the best comic shop I possibly can.
One word to describe yourself: Blessed. Most people who come in love comics so they think it must be a dream job come true, and I’ve been around the block enough to know I’m very lucky that I can do what I love every day.
Person you’d most like to meet: Since I work every day in a fantasy world, I’ll say Batman. I’ve got some books for him to sign.
