Comics and craft beer come together at My Parents’ Basement

Many business owners say their enterprise started with a dream. Usually they mean a figurative dream. Tim Ensor, one of the owners of newly opened My Parents’ Basement in Avondale Estates, said the pub and comic book shop concept came from a literal dream.

“I actually woke up having dreamed about opening a place like this. Even the name My Parents’ Basement was in the dream,” said Ensor, who explained that he grew up a home where the basement was devoted to games, toys and comics.

Ensor and the friends who became his business partners—Dave DeFeo and Lawson Wright—all have backgrounds in the restaurant industry and were all working in Decatur restaurants when they decided to start their own.

“We all do some of everything here, but my partners have been more involved in developing the menu while I’ve focused on the beers,” he said. My Parents’ Basement features 29 on tap beers, many of which are local craft beers. There also are two on tap craft sodas and an on tap iced coffee.

Since My Parents’ Basement opened on Aug. 12 business has been brisk at both lunch and dinner times, said Ensor, who describes the bill of fare as “American pub” with lots of sandwiches and small plates. “We make our own hot pocket and the Philly cheesesteak is really good.”

Ensor, who describes himself as an on-and-off comic fan, said one event the sparked the launch of a new business was the gift of approximately 25,000 comic books. “A friend from high school donated the comic books after a bookstore he owned closed. And the comics were literally stored in his parents’ basement,” he said.

My Parents’ Basement carries both new and used comics, but the focus is on new editions. “Comics come in every Wednesday,” according to Ensor. “We have possible 150 titles at one time and more than 2,000 books. Customers can come in, buy the latest editions of their favorites and sit and read as they have a beer.” Noting that hanging out is encouraged, he said customers are welcome to bring in board games and play as long as they like while they eat and drink.

He said the shop offers a combination of classic comics such as those featuring super heroes and independent comics with fantasy themes that appeal more to adult audiences. Despite its being a pub, My Parents’ Basements includes children’s titles and welcomes families. “Comics appeal to wide range of readers. Some are children and young adults, but some there are lots of older comic book readers as well,” Ensor said. “There are people who enjoyed comics when they are children who are rediscovering them. Comics are popular with all ages right now.”

In recent years, “Comic books have turned into the Superman of the print media industry,” according to an article in USA Today, which states “the printed comic book remains a highly prized valuable that collectors can resell and store. Plus, blockbuster movies based on comic book heroes, such as Iron Man, are great publicity.”

The partners see the focus of My Parents’ Basement equally divided between its identity as a pub and its identity as a comic store, according to Ensor.

After looking around for a suitable place, the partners settled on the North Avondale Road building that for years had been The James Joyce Pub then briefly reopened under several different concepts before closing for three years. The building looks much the same as it did in its earlier uses, but because it had been closed for years cleaning, painting and remodeling were necessary. “It’s really a beautiful building and we were just showing it some love by fixing it up,” Ensor said.

“This is a great location,” he continued. “So many customers are telling us that they’re so happy to see this location open again.”