Tony Grove’s proudest achievements as owner of Tony’s Kingdom of Comics in Keizer are the charity events he held at the store and appearances at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Portland. The store always gathered food for the Keizer Community Food Bank.
After more than 17 years in business in two locations in Keizer, Grove has decided to sell the business he has lovingly grown over the years. Personal needs forced his hand in the decision to hand the Kingdom off to a new owner.
Grove’s last day operating the store is scheduled for Saturday, June 1. The new owner of the store had not been identified as of press time.
His devotion to the local food bank stems from Grove’s grandmother’s altruism. She raised Tony from the age of two, demonstrating charity to help those less fortunate.
From the very first day of business, Tony’s Kingdom of Comics has been a repository for donations of food to benefit the local food bank.
His grandmother was financially well-off.
“No matter how much she had, she would always buy toys throughout the year and donate them to a church at Christmas,” Grove remembered. “She would go once a week down to the food bank and help out,” he added. He said that his giving back attitude came from her, a longtime Free Mason. Grove is a Free Mason as well, like his father before him.
Tony’s Kingdom of Comics has held events several times a year, offering free comic books and hosting characters for the public to meet.
Tony Grove is going out with a bang on Saturday, May 4, with a May the Fourth Be With You event, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees can get up to 20 free comic books, more if they bring donations of non-perishable food items for the Keizer Community Food Bank.
A scheduled special guest will be artist Floydman, creator of Garbage Pail Kids, Swell Comics and a Cartoons magazine contributor.
Events at the comic store have traditionally featured costumed characters such as Spider-Man, Storm Troopers from Star Wars and others.
Fans of the store have until the end of May to visit Tony Grove, the store and the store’s mascot, Eddard, a shepherd dog.
Tony’s Kingdom of Comics is located at 3856 River Road N., in Keizer Village.
Photo courtesy of Nerdophiles
Contact Publisher Lyndon Zaitz:
[email protected] or 503-390-1051
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