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Tony Favello (center), co-owner of Heroic Adventures in Edwardsville, alongside store managers Ben Martin (left) and Erin Stacy.
Scott Marion/The Intelligencer
Tony Favello is well aware of what it means to cherish gaming or comic book culture, and as the co-owner of Heroic Adventures, he is eager to share that enthusiasm and expertise.
Favello and Steve Unverferth jointly own Heroic Adventures, located at 1005 Century Drive in Edwardsville, and they have been collaborating as business partners for 21 years.
Additionally, they own Fantasy Books in Belleville and Fantasy Books and Games in Fairview Heights.
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The parent company of the store, Fantasy Books Inc., has been operating for 44 years and at one time had six outlets in St. Louis and the Metro East region. Favello and Unverferth acquired the Belleville shop in 2004 and subsequently expanded to Fairview Heights and Edwardsville.
“I have been a comic book collector since I was around 12 years old, and I was a patron at the Belleville site where Steve was the manager and my closest friend back then,” Favello stated. “When the original proprietor chose to sell that store, he presented the opportunity to Steve, who then came to me and asked if I would like to buy the store with him.”
For Favello and Unverferth, providing a broad range of products is pivotal to their achievements at Heroic Adventures and their other two establishments. For those intrigued by fantasy gaming or comic books, the exploration opportunities are limitless.
“I spent 22 years in marketing, and two years ago I exited corporate America and joined here,” Favello shared. “I often tell people that we sell enjoyment every day.”
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“Our inventory includes comic books, board games, collectible card games such as Magic: The Gathering and Pokémon, tabletop endeavors like Warhammer, roleplaying games such as Dungeons & Dragons, along with literature, toys, and action figures. The variety of our offerings is immense
product has contributed to our achievements and allows us to endure the fluctuations of the market.”
The most popular products at Heroic Adventures are the trading card games, commonly referred to as TCGs, including Magic: the Gathering, One Piece, and Digimon.
“Following that, the comic books are likely our next top sellers,” Favello mentioned.
Monitoring gaming developments
To maintain longevity in a cutthroat sector, Favello and Unverferth monitor developments in the gaming arena to ensure they offer what clients desire most.
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“The landscape has shifted considerably in that the comic book realm has experienced significant transformations concerning writers and illustrators, and they’ve faced some downturns from which they are just beginning to recover,” Favello stated. “There have been alterations in distribution that have influenced the business.
“The gaming sector has evolved, and the D&D (Dungeons & Dragons) publishers and vendors have implemented changes that have not been well received by customers, leading to a decline in role-playing games. On the other hand, trading card games consistently remain strong and perform exceptionally well for us.”
Heroic Adventures also features a gaming room that can host 45 individuals, with various games organized every evening of the week.
“We have designated nights for specific games, with Wednesday evenings reserved for Magic: The Gathering Commander,” Favello noted. “Thursday nights are for One Piece, while Friday nights are once more for Magic: The Gathering. On Saturday, we hold Yu-Gi-Oh, and on Sunday, we host Pokémon.”
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“We have attendees who come regularly, and we likely possess the largest One Piece group in the region, comprising about 45 individuals. Our Magic: The Gathering Commander group consistently maintains around 20 participants each week. We are fortunate to have many committed gamers.”
‘Here to aid the community’
Whether through the nightly gaming sessions or individuals visiting to purchase comic books or games, Favello values the loyalty of a customer base that continues to expand.
“New comic releases arrive every Wednesday, and we see many regular clients for that,” Favello expressed. “Our staff is very informed and notably friendly, open, and accommodating.
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“With three locations, we can facilitate transfers between stores, and if we lack an item here, one of our other locations might possess it. Just inquire if we can procure it for you, and we can typically transfer it within a day. We also accommodate special requests. We are dedicated to supporting the community and providing enjoyment for everyone.”
Heroic Adventures operates Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For additional details about Heroic Adventures, please visit fantasybooksinc.com/, call 618-659-0099, or check out Heroic Adventures on Facebook. To discover weekly gaming events at the store, head to https://discord.com/invite/qqcGBwswP4.
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