Ontario novelty shop destroyed by fire but met with outpour of community support

A small business in Hamilton, Ontario, is recovering after a devastating fire on Sunday afternoon caused extensive damage, leaving it a "total loss."

Shop co-owner Keith Arana tells blogTO he first noticed smoke billowing above his comic book store, Nerdcore, located at 211 Ottawa St. N. Once he noticed flames had taken over the upper deck occupied by other tenants, he immediately called 911.

The Hamilton Fire Department (HFD) tells blogTO that firefighters were on the scene at 3:30 p.m on April 5. "The rear of the structure was fully involved and rapidly spreading into the roof area. Wind conditions at the time of the incident were a contributing factor to the fire's spread."

Later that day, in an update shared on Facebook, Keith and his wife and co-owner Angie said the fire destroyed 99 per cent of their inventory, along with much of the building.

"We were only able to retrieve a few personal belongings and a small number of items from the store — everything else has suffered significant smoke or severe water damage," the post reads. "Total loss."

HFD says the fire caused heavy damage to 209–211 Ottawa St. N., including restaurants Sushi Azuki and HAMBRGR, with losses topping over $1 million. Everyone got out safely, and no one was hurt.

Nerdcore has been a staple on the bustling Hamilton street since it first opened its doors in 2017. Arana says the fate of the store is up in the air, but hopes to relocate to another spot in the city eventually. For now, all the couple can do is sort through debris and rebuild.

But they're not doing it alone; the community is rallying behind them.

Within hours of the fire being extinguished, Arana's friend Audrea DiJulio started a GoFundMe campaign, offering neighbours, friends and loyal customers a way to pitch in and support the family.

"This is what the community does for one another," DiJulio writes on the campaign page. "As we know, insurance coverage is limited, and does not include the loss of income while they try to put their life back together and get back on their feet."

So far, close to $9,000 has been raised.Hamilton resident David Thorne tells blogTO he has been shopping at Nerdcore for over five years, drawn to its "excellent atmosphere" and "great conversations" with the owners.

Thorne says he was devastated by the news but equally moved by the outpour of support for one of his favourite stores.

"It's a sad reminder to always support local and buy from those mom and pop shops," he says, explaining that it was the Arana family who helped the actor and podcast host rediscover his love of comic books in 2020.

Krista Swayze, owner of Flourish Skin Studio and a board member of the Ottawa Street BIA, tells blogTO that what happened to Nerdcore isn't just a nameless tragedy but a loss for the whole community.

"I think we all feel a sense of ownership in the small businesses that make up our communities because the owners and employees aren't just faceless workers," she says. "They often know you by name and make experiences in their store extra special for you and your family."

Swayze calls the speedy support for Nerdcore heartwarming, emphasizing that without small businesses, cities lose their culture and heart.

"Small business owners aren't in it to get rich. They put their heart and soul into their work because they're passionate and want to add value to the community."

Ontario entrepreneur Annette Smith tells blogTO that the Nerdcore incident brings back memories of a fire she faced in 2022, which devastated her vegan beauty brand.

"When something tragic like this happens to a fellow small business owner – something that's so beyond their control – you can't help but feel for them," she says, reflecting on the challenges she knows all too well, including the financial uncertainty that comes with running your own business. 

She adds, "It's all about community over competition."

Although Arana has the daunting task of starting over from scratch, he looks at the bright side of the horrible situation.

"This may be the worst case scenario for my business, but at least I'm alive, right?"