Nerdin Out About Business!

Brad Vigesaa is the guy who brings the fun to Rochester.

Owner of NerdinOut , Vigesaa’s store collection of good times includes new toys, comics, collectibles, video games, card games, and board games.

“A lot of people don’t realize we offer some of that stuff,” he said.

“It just kind of came about,” Vigesaa said of his 6,000-square-foot shop at 1802 2nd St. SW. “I was always into this type of stuff. I just decided this was something I wanted to give Rochester, because it wasn’t here and I had a passion for it. When you have that passion, it makes it easier.”

Nerdin Out is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Vigesaa opened the business on Elton Hills Drive in 2017 and then moved the retailer to its present location in 2019. Business is good, he says, with the shopper demographic being fairly expansive; including kids looking for Pokemon cards to grandparents searching for collectibles.

Previously, the Faribault native was in the car business as a finance manager and a sales manager. Working for others made him realize he could “do more,” Vigesaa said.

He gauges his success by how well the community responds to what he offers.

“Our success is only good as what our community gives back to us,” he said. “We really try to involve ourselves in the community of Rochester.”

Aside from of what he stocks at Nerdin Out, Vigesaa has increased the fun barometer by bringing a Comic Con to the city, which will be held Oct. 6-8 at Mayo Civic Center. Last year the event drew 3,000 people and this year he expects as many as 4,000 to 5,000, Vigesaa said.

Present at Comic Con are TV stars, cos players, vendors and more all, combining into a “big pop culture event for people to enjoy, since we don’t have a ton of events in the city,” he said.

The event draws people from throughout the midwest, including Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota. “We get people from far away,” Vigesaa said, to visit their more than 60 vendors.

What’s more, in June, he’s partnering with the Rochester Honkers baseball team to be the main sponsor for a Comic Book Night, where they’ll donate 200 comics to game attendees.

Vigesaa hasn’t franchised his business but does own a second location in Inver Grove Heights. Between the two store locations, he employs 11 people.

At Nerdin Out, you can find everything from a 50 cent sticker to a $1,000 statue.

“Honestly, every day is an adventure,” Vigesaa said. “It’s really fun to meet all the people who enjoy this. The greatest thing is making relationships and getting to know people.”

For others who have a desire to get into business for themselves, Vigesaa cautions that doing the research at the outset is important, and networking with entrepreneurs is also critical.

“You definitely have to have a certain make-up,” he said. “It takes a lot of energy and time.”

He enjoys offering a child-like experience to his customers, but said his business isn’t a dream come true just yet. “It’s great, but I strive to bring more. Do more,” he said.

Thank you to Renee Berg in helping create this article for Linkedin.