Heebeegeebeez Celebrates 30 Years In Ogden
Loyal patrons and passionate ownership keep the Washington Boulevard comics and games shop thriving after three decades.
NEWS
Inside Heebeegeebeez Comix & Games shop, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Photo by Deann Armes
Family-owned shop Heebeegeebeez Comix & Games is filled with balloons and a bump in foot traffic as this week marks its 30th anniversary in Ogden.
Jonathan Pust, who still owns and operates his three locations in Ogden, Logan, and Layton, opened the first Heebeegeebeez in Ogden as a record shop in 1994. He and his daughter Astrid Pust, who grew up in the store and now runs it alongside her father, are both avid fans of the products they sell, prizing independent creatives above the more widely known comic book conglomerates.
“If independent writers didn’t exist there would be no innovation,” Astrid Pust said. A sprawling section of independent books dominates the shop as much as Marvel and DC.
Inside Heebeegeebeez Comix & Games shop, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Photos by Deann Armes
Speaking to her dad’s business success, Pust points out three factors: The “tenacity to survive,” the community, and customer service.
She emphasized that her father Jonathon Pust is an exceptionally hard worker who puts in “thousands of hours.” She recalled the years he’d run around in costumes giving presents away to kids.
Without the community support, “there would be no store,” she stated. And in turn, they make it their mission to offer a welcoming environment full of nostalgia, events, and special promotions like Free Comic Book Day.
In a world of dwindling products in brick-and-mortar retail, even in the big box stores, it’s impressive to see a local family shop filled wall-to-wall with comic books, retro video games, DVDs, board games, vinyl records, toys, and more.
Its tidy, organized layout provides anything comic and game buffs could hope to find: hundreds of obscure, independent titles along with all the popular brands including DC, Marvel, D & D, Magic: The Gathering, My Little Pony, Harry Potter, Pokemon, Star Wars…even Beatles collectible toys.
Pust looks forward to carrying forth the Heebeegeebeez legacy for many years to come.
The Ogden shop is located at 2262 Washington Blvd. Store hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The store is closed Sunday.
Heebeegeebeez has two other locations in Logan and Layton.
Follow Heebeegeebeez (Instagram @heebeegeebeez_comics and Facebook @heebeegeebeezcomics) on social media for intermittent specials and deals throughout the year in celebration of their 30th year.
