Name: Hawk's Hobby House, which opened July 2.
Owners: Marty and Audrey Hawkins. Their son Dustin helps on occasion.
Location: 306 Second Ave. beside the Dayton Coffee Shop in Dayton, Tenn.
Products/services: Autographed and memorabilia sports cards, unopened sports card boxes and Ultimate Fighting Championship cards. Also offered are magic gimmicks, such as trick cards and coins, along with books and videos for beginner and intermediate magicians. Magician lecture notes and props can be ordered.
Age: Mr. Hawkins, who is celebrating his 40th birthday this month, has collected cards and performed magic tricks periodically for more than 10 years.
Startup costs: Under $10,000 to open business with card, glass cases and memorabilia purchases.
Biggest hurdle: Choosing a location that would provide adequate exposure economically and cost under $1,000 in monthly rent were the most difficult. Currently, he maintains his job as property manager for Emerald Pointe apartments in Dayton.
Favorite part of job: Showing the customers vintage cards or demonstrating a magic trick to them while they browse is a treat for him, he said, and allows him to give "more personal attention" to each customer.
Motivation: "Dayton needs family oriented hobbies that are affordable and can be shared together," he said. His wife hopes it'll become a profitable venture they can retire from in 10 to 20 years.
First-year goal: Buy the building he's renting after six months and maintain an average of 10 people in his Marty's Magic Mondays classes, which he'll teach specialty tricks each week for $6.
Hours of operation: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday by appointment only at 423-400-6331; Marty's Magic Mondays classes from 7 to 9 p.m., open to the public by reservation.
- Compiled by correspondent Kimberly McMillian, kdj424@bellsouth.net