Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Proza.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Our story begins a long, long time ago, when we as the co-founders (Tristan and Erin) grew up as big fans of fantasy, sci-fi, comic books, collectibles, video games, and all things curious and arcane. Tristan managed several specialty retail stores over time while building his own impressive personal collection of treasures. I managed several restaurants, bars, and entertainment centers in the service industry, honing skills for hospitality, live events, and facilitating gatherings. We met, fell in love, got married, and eventually decided to combine our powers to create a business that welcomes any and all, and especially those who seek the geek life and want a community to belong to. Our specialty service is in providing a third space that has been the catalyst for quite a few new friendships among our regulars.
Our mission is to create a shopping and gathering experience that goes far beyond a transaction, and our vision has been to hold a welcoming place for curious minds to explore and gather. We try to achieve that through our all-are-welcome vibe and varied live events that we host: themed trivia nights, mystery parties, D&D date nights, puzzle contests, as well as tournaments and open-play based in the TCG world, to name just a few. Our values also mean a heavy focus on supporting local vendors, artists, and businesses as much as possible, so we build many of our product lines and events with that in mind.
The online store launched in January of 2024, and we own and operate our physical location in the Northway Shopping Center (opened in July 2024), which features all of our retail products, live events, and a bar where we serve locally-made sodas, snacks, beer, and wine. The Curious Crow Company is a small, family-owned business that is proud to be rooted in geekdom and its community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a small business always presents challenges, especially when you’re blazing a path not well-travelled. For instance, we had a hard time finding an insurance company that would take us on initially, because we don’t fit neatly into any business category, and we sell some second-hand retail items and alcohol. We did eventually find a broker insurance agency that worked great, but it did hold up our ability to get the required permits for the renovations of our space and delayed our opening time. That became a theme of our adventure with bureaucracy, marketing, and human psychology; not quite fitting into the boxes people like to check off…but that was also our goal all along. We’re okay with being a bit of a mystery and offering something truly unique.
Our other challenge has been translating the scope of what we do, what we offer, and our vibe. We can take many pictures and videos, but it always requires people to physically step into our space to fully appreciate what it is. Our word-of-mouth advertising has increased because of this, and we’re always grateful to our brand ambassadors, of whom we have many, and they are a part of our beloved community. Growth is slower that way, but the foundation we have built with our loyalty members and regulars is like a family, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
As with any family-owned business, though, there are certainly sacrifices we make to own and operate our business, which makes it difficult at times for our four boys, who are ages 10 – 13. We try to balance home life with work life the best we can, but sometimes we fall short, or feel like we do. Hopefully, we leave them with a legacy of working hard to follow their dreams.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Curious Crow Company?
The Curious Crow Company is a family-owned business and is located in the Northway Shopping Center in the north metro. We offer nerdy retail items, local libations and snacks, and live events that will thrill and delight you! We’re known for our extensive Magic: the Gathering collections that are organized for the shopper’s convenience, and for our live events that run the gamut of fun and engagement. We also have a large space for gathering, an event room that can be rented out, and we provide a third space for one and all. Come for the shopping, stay for the events, community, and nostalgia.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was an introvert and nerd, through and through. I loved to read and draw, and found it challenging to be in groups and certain activities. I had the privilege to explore my curiosities that ranged from reading, art, nature, and science through my parents (who both owned their own small businesses) and my grandmother, who encouraged me to follow my passions. I’ve always loved the company of animals, and as a child, took many strays home, much to the chagrin of my household. Even as an introvert, I have always loved planning parties and gatherings that bring people together and invite connections. But I am much more the planner and organizer behind the scenes, and not the person in the limelight, by preference. The partnership with my husband works out great for this; he is completely comfortable being in the spotlight as a former lead singer of a metal band, and can think on his feet. He was a theatre, band, and debate team kid as well, so he does not freeze when put in front of people like I tend to do. Tristan grew up in the woods with his parents, who fostered a strong work ethic and focus on the natural world. He was also a huge nerd who collected comic books, action figures, MtG cards, video games, and played Dungeons & Dragons.
I think our backgrounds play a significant role in how we show up and approach our business, as we want it to be a gateway to geekdom and the opposite of intimidating. A place where curiosity is embraced.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.curiouscrowcompany.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_curious_crow_co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curiouscrowcompany
- Other: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/the-curious-crow-company-88100143103
