If you live in Ottawa (or anywhere near it, for that matter), never having been to Rideau Centre or knowing about it is practically unheard of. There’s a little bit of everything for everyone. Anyone who knows me can find me at Hot Topic, trying not to empty my wallet. And anyone who can relate to that ought to be delighted to hear about Imaginaire, a leading retailer of collectibles and pop culture merchandise, that’s opening this fall at Rideau Centre, next to Simons.
The store will have an area of approximately 20,000 square feet over two floors, making it one of the largest specialty stores in the region. This is the first Imaginaire to be opened outside Quebec. (Note: the store plans to hire several dozen employees, so get those resumes ready if this sounds like your dream retail job!)
Imaginaire at its soon-to-be spot in Rideau Centre. Photo: Shireen Agharazi-Dormani.
Customers can expect to find a wide selection of products, including sports cards, board games, puzzles, trading cards, action figures, books, comics, graphic novels, manga, and other pop culture merchandise. Imaginaire also offers an expansive collection of English and French books for all interests and ages, and regularly organizes events and tournaments for board games, collectibles, and more, allowing devotees to meet others like them and participate in all-in-good-fun competitions.
While one might consider Imaginaire just another place for geeks to indulge in their hobbies, I think it’s a place for everyone. Sure, there are plenty of video games, all things Marvel, anime/manga and a long list of other interests, but there are options for artists, sports fans, bibliophiles and collectors. There’s a little bit of everything in one store, and I’d consider that a perfect addition to the Rideau Centre.
For more information on Imaginaire and its products, please visit their website at www.imaginaire.com.
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