Brick and mortar magic shops are a rare breed, so when we spot a profile or video of one online, we like to share it with the world. Recently, Northwest Boomer & Senior News interviewed Dave Lemberg, owner of Dave’s Killer Magic Shop in Vancouver, WA, about how opening his store has been a “dream come true”. 

Dave is a chemistry teacher at Union High School, and opened up an online magic shop as a sort of passion project of his. When he started getting requests to demonstrate tricks for local residents, he started hosting monthly get-togethers in his house. As these meetings grew in popularity, he quickly realized it was time to open up his own store.

“If you don’t have older people mentoring younger people, the art will die, so I want to get kids involved – not just a casual interest but to go on and continue the art,” he told the site. “It’s fun to get excited as a youngster, and it’s fun to get other kids into it.”  

So far, the store hasn’t turned a profit, and Dave continues to use his teaching job as his main source of income. He hopes that the shop will be in a place where he can make a sustainable living off it once he retires. 

“I still enjoy teaching, and that is my income,” he says. “The business is not a money-maker, and it really takes a second seat to my job teaching. We’re building the business so that when I finally do retire, there’s something there. That was the motivation.”  

You can find out more about what’s going on at Dave’s Killer Magic Shop, as well as order magic tricks and supplies from its website here. You can read the full interview with Dave here.

The Portland Magic Jam has brought the best in prestidigitation to the Pacific Northwest for a few years now, and it returns in January 2018 with a slate of headliners including David Stone, Richard Osterlind, Rocco, and Pop Haydn.

Filling the Portland Airport Sheraton Inn from January 12-14, the Magic Jam brings together hobbyists and professionals from Oregon, Washington, and elsewhere for a weekend of collaboration, celebration, and performance. Registration to the event includes lectures, close-up shows, access to the dealer’s room, tickets to the evening stage show, and more.

Pre-registration for the event is $130 for adults, $65 for spouses, children under 18, and accompanying parents, but this price will only be available until December 31. Hotel rooms at the Airport Sheraton are available at a discounted rate until December 22 (or space runs out). Extra-fee workshops are also available. Tickets to the evening show are also available separately, and to the public for $20 in advance, or $25 at the door.

For more information on the magic jam, as well as how to buy your tickets, head over to pdxmagicjam.com.