Upon crossing the threshold of the door, as the chime of the doorbell fades, visitors immerse themselves in a new world. At Good Geek, pop culture saturates the walls. Customized bags featuring Guardians of the Galaxy or Pokémon, the Asian grocery store, and key Japanese concepts like Ichiban Kuji, a local lottery, create a universe that opened on February 10 at 13, rue des Capucins in Belfort.
A family project involving Christopher Cornu and Cédric Lemoine, supported by the latter’s partner Elodie Cermak. With backgrounds in retailing and as a designer for Disney, the two brothers have embarked on a completely different adventure.
A card repurchase service
With the business plan finalized, the boutique’s creators sought to distinguish themselves from other stores in Belfort. Instead of stocking board games like neighboring Agartha or new manga like Mangathèque, they opted for diversity. Second-hand items, Banpresto® geek community figurines, and a surprising highlight: cards.
At the counter, the selection of boosters for One Piece, Magic, Pokémon, and Yu-Gi-Oh is extensive. Some decks are even available for enthusiasts to play on tables set up along the storefront. Additionally, Good Geek offers a card repurchase service on an individual basis. In just two weeks, the managers found themselves with “14,000 cards to sort through,” according to Cédric Lemoine, a time-consuming success. “There are conditions, grades, series. It’s about connecting collectors, buyers, traders,” he explains.
An online store on the way
During our conversation, a man enters the shop and hands Cédric the first volume of a book before leaving. “He was a dad looking for a manga for his daughter,” a gesture to help steer his choice. For the manager, the goal is not to turn Good Geek into a concept store but a “community hub” where generations can interact. “Families arrive together, with the grandmother, mother, children,” Elodie Cermak explains. “They browse the aisles saying ‘this is my entire youth’. It truly creates something intergenerational,” adds Cédric Lemoine.
Despite the variety of products on the shelves, the location serves as a secondary establishment. The initial idea of the managers is to launch a website featuring a pre-order system with different offers from the Belfort store. After six and a half months of development, the site is set to be ready by the end of next week.
Another project on the horizon is for the boutique’s creators to enhance communication. Not just about the store, but to provide explanations about various products for the general public and potentially establish themselves as a “name in news, testing, and product reviews.”
