When Kevin Hosein thinks about what makes a great local game store, he doesn’t think about profit margins and products, but rather something much simpler: trust. “I want to build an island,” Kevin said, describing the philosophy behind his store, TKO Toy Company located in Guelph, Ontario. “I want to give people shelter, food… everything, the fundamentals. And if they want to stay here, they can stay indefinitely.”
In just a year and a half, the safe haven that TKO Toy Company offers has turned the LGS into a welcoming destination for players and customers across the region, and is now even being recognized as a finalist for Hobby Shop of the Year.
From Collector to Behind the Counter
Long before he opened a store of his own, Kevin was a kid growing up in a local card shop called Untouchables, where he played Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh!, and then eventually Magic: The Gathering. He collected Pokémon cards with his father, who was also a sports cards collector.
Later in life, he found himself on the other side of the counter. He started paying attention to pricing and market trends, interested in how cards could suddenly skyrocket in price. That curiosity turned into real market instincts, and the owner of Untouchables noticed and offered Kevin a job.
That role opened the door to the business side of the hobby: customer trust, operations, and what makes an LGS stand out. Even after later transitioning into a full-time career in law and policy, he stayed connected by consulting for friends who were opening stores while he also continued to buy, sell, and study the industry.
Why Kevin Opened His Own LGS
When Kevin talks about why he opened TKO Toy Company, he doesn’t start with market gaps or business opportunities. Instead, he talks about something he feels is disappearing: safe spaces. Through his work in law and policy, he’s seen firsthand how few physical places exist where young people can gather, socialize, and simply belong.
That belief became the driving force behind TKO Toy Company. Kevin wanted to create the kind of local game store he grew up in, one where everyone knew each other and where the person behind the counter wasn’t just selling you something, but building a relationship with you. From the beginning, he built the store very intentionally, hand-selecting staff who were aligned with his vision.
Building Community in Guelph
Located about an hour and a half outside of Toronto, Guelph is a university town with a wide range of residents. When Kevin relocated to the area, he quickly took notice that there wasn’t a dedicated TCG shop, like there was when he was growing up. So instead of relying on foot traffic alone, he decided to choose a destination model where people intentionally seek out TKO Toy Company.
The store’s layout reflects Kevin’s philosophy on the LGS being a community space, where the play space is larger than the retail area, intentionally designed to give customers room to sit, play, work, or simply spend time together.
Community engagement also extends beyond the walls of TKO Toy Company. Kevin partners with local organizations like Hope House, working directly with the charity by hosting donation drives. The store is also building relationships with the University of Guelph through sponsorships, pop-ups, and in-game activations for campus sports teams, to become even further embedded in the community.
Selling on TCGplayer
When TCGplayer reached out to Kevin about becoming a seller on the Marketplace as part of a small Canadian pilot program, Kevin didn’t hesitate. TCGplayer had long been a pricing reference point for stores across North America, and for Kevin, it was a natural extension of how he already approached the business.
Kevin uses TCGplayer as a primary pricing resource, aligning singles prices closely with the Marketplace to maintain transparency and fairness. In a region where pricing had historically run well above market due to limited competition, that approach has helped build trust with customers.
While many stores rely heavily on online sales, the majority of TKO Toy Company’s revenue happens in-store. For Kevin, TCGplayer serves as both a growth tool and a credibility marker, while the heart of the business remains face-to-face with his customers and players at the LGS.
Hobby Shop of the Year
Being named a finalist for Hobby Shop of the Year was something Kevin says he and his team didn’t expect. In just a year and a half, TKO Toy Company has grown from a concept built on Kevin’s values to a store recognized globally for its impact.
More than anything, the nomination has been a celebration for the team. Kevin was quick to share the news with his staff, emphasizing that the recognition belongs to them as much as it does to him. “It’s a testament to all the work they’re putting in,” he said.
Words of Wisdom
For anyone considering opening their own local game store, Kevin’s advice is to bring passion alongside business.
The business is important, and it also means nothing without the dedication –– for Kevin, especially with balancing a demanding career and a family, the effort has to mean something deeper. That meaning is in building a safe haven for people of all ages, and he has done just that with TKO Toy Company.