# Cosmic Jo&\#8217;s Norwich Collectibles and Toy Shop

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Pop Culture & Sci-Fi Trading Outpost Cosmic Jo's takes Norwich Collectibles to a new level. When you step into Cosmic Jo’s Galactic Trading Outpost in Norwich, it’s like entering a world where the magic of your favourite sci-fi, fantasy, and animated stories comes to life. But what you might not know is that the former basket shop of Hovell's on the junction of Bedford Street and Bridewell Alley, has literally morphed into a modern, unique and immersive Collectible Store and Toy Shop complete with an American Themed Cosmic Cafe. The Trading Outpost isn’t just a business; it’s a dream brought to life by Jonathan Storey and his husband, Bradley Brady. Meet the Creators Jonathan Storey or 'Jo' as he's known to his loyal customers, is a retail expert with over 30 years of experience at The Walt Disney Company, working in Europe and the USA. It's common knowledge that Jonathan is a huge Disney fan, but he has an absolute passion for Star Wars, especially his favourite ever character Princess Leah and The Ewok's. Bradley Brady is a seasoned policy and communications leader, a published author of three fictional books and at one time owned his own music store. He has a deep fascination for everything Doctor Who and is a huge Disney fan. You'll usually find Brad developing and creating the fabulous Cosmic Cafe Menu items on the lower floor of the Trading Outpost. Cosmic Jo's is far from your normal shop. As soon as you step over the threshold, you're in for an amazing surprise and an overload of nostalgia and excitement that will make the hairs stand up on your arms. If I'm really honest, there's nothing quite like it anywhere. We were so intrigued about the background behind the shop and what makes this store so unique, that we sat down with Jonathan to find out a little bit more about the concept. Q: Jonathan, thank you for speaking with us. Can you start by telling us about the origins of Cosmic Jo’s? How did the idea come about? Jonathan: Gosh. I'm very happy to share our story. Cosmic Jo’s Galactic Trading Outpost really grew out of a passion that both Brad and I have had for as long as we can remember. Growing up in Great Yarmouth in the 1980s, we were both deeply immersed in the pop culture of the time and as we traveled and visited different collectible stores, we often found that many didn’t quite live up to our imaginations. Sci-fi, adventure, cartoons, TV shows and movies hold so many special memories for collectors of every conceivable age. It's like being able to re-live your childhood, youth or the best years of your life all over again. We dreamed of a place that was more than just a store—we wanted to build a one-of-a-kind environment that truly celebrated the stories and characters we love so much. We decided to take the plunge and create something out of this world. And now we have Cosmic Jo’s. It's a space where collectors like us could find not only rare and vintage items but also be part of a community and an experience that felt magical and immersive from the items we sell, the food and drink we serve in The Cosmic Cafe. From the moment our customers walk in the door, even the music soundtrack that plays are all themed around the items in store to give a sense of nostalgia and excitement. To be extra special we knew the shop had to have a backstory and that's when Cosmic Jo was born and began his own evolution into where we are today. Q: The concept of Cosmic Jo’s goes beyond just selling collectibles. What inspired you to create an immersive environment and café alongside the store? Jonathan: From my many years working with Walt Disney, I'm familiar with the evolution of retail over the last few decades. People are now looking for experiences, not just transactions. High street retailers have been in decline for many years. High streets have traditionally been the heart of town centres, but as shopping habits have evolved, so too have the shops. With the growth explosion of the toy collectible mar

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