Daily Inspiration: Meet Lewis Warren

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lewis Warren.

Lewis, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born with Cerebral Palsy, which affects some of my motor skills and gives me a bit of a speech impediment. Growing up with it wasn’t always easy—kids can be tough critics—but it helped shape who I am today.

As for Monkey Paw Toys, that story is way more fun. I’ve always been a die-hard collector—action figures, comics, you name it. I love the lore, the creativity of posing figures, doing toy photography, and just geeking out over it all. After years of collecting, I thought, “Why not share this joy with other people?”

I used to work at another store, and I’d pitch all these ideas about what customers would love or cool products to bring in. But honestly, my ideas usually went in one ear and out the other. So eventually I thought, “Fine, I’ll just do it myself. How hard can it be?” (Spoiler: it’s pretty hard when you’ve never dealt with taxes, payroll, ordering, and all the fun paperwork that comes with running a business.)

But I jumped in anyway, and here we are. Monkey Paw Toys has turned into something really special—a place where collectors and fans can hang out and feel at home. Along the way, we’ve even picked up some recognition, like “Best of Mile High” and “Who’s Who in America.” Not bad for an idea that started with a toy shelf and a lot of stubbornness.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? Hah, not even close. If anything ever feels too smooth in business, that’s usually a sign something’s about to go wrong.

For me, the bumps started right at the beginning. Within the first two weeks of getting my business license, my partner bailed. Just like that, I was on my own with zero business history, no clue what I was doing, and this little voice in my head saying, “How hard could it be?” (Turns out—pretty hard.)

So I kept showing up. Day after day, I’d go into the shop, set up displays, price products, move things around—basically playing store without actually opening. A few friends would swing by to help here and there, but I just kept stalling. This went on for about a month until finally I told myself, “Enough—doors open this Saturday.”

And I did it. That first day was amazing—the shop was packed, and I thought, “Wow, this is it!” Then reality hit. After the excitement, there were weeks where I’d go six or seven days without a single customer. It was rough, and honestly, I almost quit.

But one of my closest friends gave me advice I’ll never forget: “Just go one more day, one more week.” So I pushed through, one day at a time. And slowly, things started to click. Customers came, word spread, and eventually, the shop took off and started thriving.

Looking back, I think the biggest lesson I learned is that success doesn’t come overnight—it comes from showing up, even on the hard days. Patience, persistence, and the support of good people can turn the roughest roads into something worth traveling.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Monkey Paw Toys, we specialize in all things collectibles. From action figures, comics, trading cards, and retro consoles to high-end statue dioramas, we’ve got something for every kind of collector. We buy, sell, and trade, plus we help customers track down those hard-to-find pieces they’ve been searching for. And it’s not just about the products—we like to host gaming demos, community events, and create a place where collectors of all ages can feel welcome and excited.

As for what I’m most proud of? Sure, I love that we’ve won “Best of Mile High” and I was recognized in “Who’s Who in America.” Those honors mean a lot. I would also say that our show comic out on Amazon Prime call “A Toy Store Near You” in Oct/Nov, But honestly, the thing I’m proudest of is my team. Without them, there wouldn’t be a Monkey Paw Toys.

J.T. is what I like to call the grandfather of the shop—he’s detail-oriented and makes sure everything is done right. I can bounce ideas off him, and together we’re always coming up with new ways to keep the store fun while sticking to our core mission of being Colorado’s best collectibles store.

Then there’s Brylan. Watching him grow from a shy kid into a confident young man has been one of the coolest parts of running this place. I’m seriously proud of that guy.

Pat is another essential piece of the puzzle. She’s proof of the saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” I lean on her for so much, and she handles everything I throw at her with total confidence. I owe her a huge thanks.

Of course Jonathan has been a great addition to the team and has really stepped up when I needed him. As well as Skyler. I just love giving Skyler a hard time!

And of course, I can’t do this interview without mentioning Rheanna. She was more than just part of the team—she was the heartbeat of the shop. She treated Monkey Paw Toys like it was her own, pouring her energy and ideas into making sure everything ran smoothly. But more than that, she had this rare ability to make people feel at home the second they walked through the door. Customers didn’t just see her as staff; they saw her as part of the experience, part of why the shop felt special.

On a personal level, Rheanna pushed me to be better—not just as a business owner, but as a person. She had a way of keeping me grounded while also encouraging me to dream bigger. A lot of the success Monkey Paw Toys has today is because of the foundation she helped build. I’ll always be grateful for her, not just for what she did for the store, but for the impact she had on me.

At the end of the day, the toys are awesome—but it’s the people behind the counter that make Monkey Paw Toys what it is.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
For anyone just starting out and thinking about chasing their own dream, my advice is simple: take the leap. Trust yourself. You’re never going to feel 100% ready, and honestly, if you wait until you do, you’ll never start. It’s scary—of course it is—but that fear of failing? That’s actually fuel. It keeps you pushing harder to make it work. “Fear isn’t a stop sign—it’s a green light with extra pressure on the gas.”

If I’m being real, I’m glad I didn’t know what I was getting into when I opened Monkey Paw Toys. If someone had sat me down and explained taxes, ordering, payroll, licenses, rent, and the mountain of behind-the-scenes work, I probably would’ve said, “Nope!” and ran for the hills. But going in blind forced me to figure it out step by step, and every mistake became a lesson. “Sometimes not knowing the path is the best way to discover your own.”

The best part is that once you push through those early struggles, you realize you’re capable of more than you ever thought. That’s when the fun begins—you get to see your vision take shape and watch people connect with what you’ve built.

So my advice? Don’t let the “what-ifs” stop you. Surround yourself with good people, be willing to learn as you go, and remember that it’s okay to stumble—you just have to keep moving forward. Progress isn’t about never falling—it’s about always getting back up.

I’ve put too much heart into this to ever walk away now. If Monkey Paw Toys went down tomorrow, I’d go down with the ship and still be proud I sailed it in the first place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://monkeypawtoys.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monkey_paw_toys/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MonkeyPawToys
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@monkey_paw_toys7927
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@monkey_paw_toys

Image Credits
Lewis Warren