Long Box Silver's Comics and Collectibles is a dream 25 years in the making. Located at 137 Wyndham St. N. in downtown Guelph, we opened our doors in February 2026 — and we haven't looked back.
Guelph-born and raised, owner Craig Schenk started collecting comics as a child, hunting Spider-Man issues at the local shop on Macdonell Street. "Ever since then, I haven't stopped collecting," he says.
For 25 years, Craig dreamed of opening his own comic book store. Life took him through culinary management, then 19 years as an accountant for a construction company — but the dream never fully faded. In the fall of 2024, he launched Long Box Silver's online on a whim. It took off. So he took a leap.
"Instead of quitting my job and finding another corporate job, I opened this place. Took a leap."
Inspired in part by the loss of his father in 2021, Craig decided life was too short to keep the dream waiting. "If I was gonna go and work for another corporation, I might as well try at least once."
Long Box Silver's is built around community. We want this to be a place where collectors, readers, and fans can come in, chat about books, movies, and TV, and escape for 30 minutes or an hour. Card game leagues and events are coming — stay tuned.
"Long Box Silver is the guy that's gonna supply you with all your treasures to fill your collection."
"Taking a Leap of Faith with New Downtown Comic Book Shop"
By Taylor Pace — GuelphToday, April 9, 2026
Guelph's Craig Schenk has dreamed of opening his own comic book store for 25 years, and now that dream has finally come true.
Schenk opened Long Box Silver's Comics and Collectibles on 137 Wyndham St. N. in mid-February. Nestled between Diana Downtown and The Patch on upper Wyndham Street, he hopes the small but vibrant space will bring the nostalgia of 90s comic book stores to downtown Guelph, along with collectible treasures and a sense of community.
"This is something I've wanted to do for about 25 years," he told GuelphToday.
Born and raised in Guelph, 44-year-old Schenk started collecting comics as a child, frequently combing the shelves of the local comic book shop for Spider-Man issues. "Ever since then, I haven't stopped collecting."
"On a whim, I started this online in the fall of 2024, and it really took off. The website was getting lots of sales. So I took a chance. Instead of quitting my job and finding another corporate job, I opened this place. Took a leap."
"I lost my dad in 2021. He was only 68. So it was a life's too short kind of thing. If I was gonna go and work for another corporation, I might as well try at least once."
He hopes to build a sense of community and to curate his collection around what his regulars want to see. "I really want a place where people can come in and chat about stuff, books, movies, TV and just escape for 30 minutes or an hour."
Product-wise, they offer new releases, back issues and rare finds, which he said has been missing in Guelph. They also have a free subscription service, where customers get 10 per cent off their monthly books.
