Chapter 29: The Second Location Idea
Saturday afternoon, the shop's packed to capacity.
Tournament running in the gaming area. Customers browsing every available shelf. Someone's waiting outside because there literally isn't room for more people. I'm turning away event bookings because we're booked solid for three months.
Leonard's helping me ring up purchases when he says it:
"You need a bigger space."
"We expanded six months ago."
"You need a second location."
The tingle hits immediately. Sharp, affirming, electric. Images cascade: Burbank storefront near Warner Bros. Studios. Industry people dropping by between meetings. The shop becoming THE place for entertainment professionals.
Second location. Yes. This is right.
"Huh," I say aloud.
"Huh what?"
"You might be onto something."
Sunday morning, I sit with Leonard and Sheldon running numbers.
My notebook's open—not the secret one, the legitimate business planning one—covered in calculations.
"Current revenue?" Sheldon asks.
"Eighteen thousand monthly. Up from twelve thousand three months ago."
"Expenses?"
"Seven thousand. Rent, inventory, utilities, my salary."
"Net profit eleven thousand monthly. Annually: one hundred thirty-two thousand." Sheldon types into his calculator. "Multiply by conservative growth rate of 15% annually—"
"Conservative seems wrong for Stuart," Leonard interrupts. "His growth's been explosive."
"Which is statistically unsustainable. Regression to mean is inevitable."
"Has been for ten months and hasn't happened yet."
They bicker about statistics while I check my investment accounts on my phone:
Bitcoin: $42,000 (30,000 coins @ $1.40) Apple: $12,500 (up from $9,750) Other holdings: $8,000 Total investments: $62,500
Plus the shop's cash reserves, I've got enough capital to fund a second location without taking loans.
The knowledge sits heavy. I'm sitting on wealth that shouldn't exist, built from information I shouldn't have.
"Stuart?" Leonard's watching me. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Just—doing math."
"Your expression suggests stress."
"Expanding's scary. What if I'm overextending?"
Sheldon jumps in with analysis. "Risk factors include: market saturation, operational complexity, split focus reducing quality, capital depletion. However, potential benefits: market expansion, revenue diversification, brand growth, economy of scale."
"So you're saying—"
"I'm saying the data supports expansion if executed strategically."
Leonard adds his perspective. "You've proven you can run one successful shop. A second location leverages existing systems. You're not starting from scratch."
"Where would you even put it?" Howard asks, arriving with coffee for everyone.
The tingle intensifies. "Burbank. Near the studios."
"That's—" Leonard pauses. "Actually brilliant. All those production companies, entertainment industry workers. Your consulting contacts could become regular customers."
"The Magnetism power would work overtime there," Raj adds, then immediately looks confused. "I mean—your networking abilities. Sorry, weird way to phrase it."
Too close, Raj. Too close.
"Networking abilities work," I confirm quickly. "Burbank makes sense. I need to scout locations."
Monday afternoon, I drive to Burbank alone.
The area near Warner Bros. is perfect—mixed residential and commercial, good foot traffic, parking available. I pass three potential storefronts before one stops me cold:
2,000 square feet. Corner location. Big windows. Empty for three months according to the leasing sign.
The tingle becomes a drum solo.
This is the place.
I call the number, get a property manager who agrees to show it immediately. Thirty minutes later, I'm walking through empty space that smells like old carpet and possibility.
"Previous tenant was a print shop," the manager explains. "Went digital, closed up. It's move-in ready, just needs cosmetic work."
"Rent?"
"Twenty-two hundred monthly. Two-year lease minimum."
I do quick math. Combined with my current Pasadena rent ($1,800), that's four thousand monthly just for space. But with eighteen thousand revenue from one location...
"Can I think about it?"
"Sure. But I've got two other serious inquiries. This is prime Burbank real estate."
The pressure tactic is obvious but effective. The space is genuinely perfect—close to studios, good visibility, right size to replicate my Pasadena success.
I pull out my phone, call Leonard.
"I found a space. Need your opinion."
He's there in twenty minutes, Sheldon in tow.
They examine everything—Sheldon with measuring tape (why does he carry a measuring tape?), Leonard with practical questions about utilities and building code compliance.
"It's good space," Leonard admits. "Structurally sound, good location, reasonable rent for the area."
"The square footage allows for optimal layout replication of your existing store," Sheldon adds. "Gaming area, event space, retail organization—all transferable."
"So I should do it?"
They exchange glances.
"That's your call," Leonard says. "But yeah. I think you should."
Sitting in my car outside the empty storefront, I update my secret notebook:
Second location found: 2000 sq ft in Burbank, $2200/month. Near studios, perfect for Magnetism power to work on industry people. Combined with existing Pasadena success, could build legitimate empire.
Financial reality: Have $62,500 invested, $18k monthly revenue, $11k monthly profit. Can afford expansion. The supernatural advantages created this opportunity, but execution is all me.
Decision: Open second location. Target: February 2009 (six months). This transitions from "lucky shop owner" to "legitimate entrepreneur." Creates sustainable business that could outlast the memory powers' timeline (which ends 2019).
Realization: I'm not just playing with future knowledge anymore. I'm building something that will exist beyond the advantages. Creating lasting value, not just exploiting opportunities.
This feels different. Better. Like I'm finally earning the success instead of just receiving it.
I close the notebook and look at the empty storefront.
Ten months ago I was terrified of opening one shop.
Now I'm planning my second.
The powers gave me the starting capital and confidence. But this—expanding, building, creating something lasting—this is me.
Stuart Bloom, entrepreneur.
Not transmigrator. Not cheater. Not void-touched opportunist.
Just someone building something real.
I choose to believe that.
Have to believe that.
Or what's the point of any of this?
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