Benn Clarkson opens Odin’s Hoard in Durham

A lifelong ambition decades in the making has opened in the heart of Durham.

Odin’s Hoard, a new independent hobby and collectables retailer at Prince Bishops Place, has only been open for a matter of weeks – but for owner Benn Clarkson, it represents the culmination of a 30-year dream.

The exterior of Odin’s Hoard at Prince Bishops Place on Durham’s High Street (Image: NEWSQUEST)

Mr Clarkson, 46, who runs the shop alongside his life and business partner Leanne Johnson, 42, said the idea for the venture stretches back to his youth in County Durham.

Recalling trips to the Durham Miners’ Gala in the 1990s, he said: “All I could think of was what I could find in the shops. I just wanted to find something cool, which I could buy and take home.”

That feeling never left him.

Benn Clarkson inside Odin’s Hoard, his new collectibles shop in Durham city centre (Image: NEWSQUEST)

“It’s an idea that’s been 30 years in my head,” he said. “I just thought if I don’t do it now, I’ll regret it – so I’ve just gone and done it.”

Now open on High Street, Odin’s Hoard is built around that same sense of discovery, stocking a wide range of popular collectable brands including Funko, Loungefly, NECA and Mezco Toys, alongside merchandise inspired by Marvel, DC and Disney.

But Mr Clarkson said the shop is about more than what is on the shelves.

“The idea of the shop is to sell what people want, not necessarily what they need,” he said.

“People come into the shop – some will walk in and walk out because it’s not for them. Some people walk in and scrutinise every corner. That’s what I really want.

“I wanted people to find things that they imagine. It’s their imagination that I want to satiate.”

A selection of collectables on display inside Odin’s Hoard in Durham (Image: NEWSQUEST)

Shelves packed with pop culture merchandise inside Odin’s Hoard (Image: NEWSQUEST)

Since opening in Durham just a few weeks ago, the store has already begun attracting a mix of curious passers-by and dedicated collectors, with new stock arriving regularly to keep the offering fresh.

Mr Clarkson is also keen to involve customers in shaping the future of the business, asking visitors what they would like to see stocked next – including the possibility of introducing comic books.

“We’re listening to what people want,” he said. “That’s a big part of it.”

Just some of the items available at Odin’s Hoard in Prince Bishops Place (Image: NEWSQUEST)

While launching a new retail business comes with challenges, particularly in the current financial climate, Mr Clarkson said he is focused on making the most of the opportunity.

“I know times are tough and people are struggling,” he said. “But I’m going to try and enjoy it.”

Located in the busy Prince Bishops Place, Odin’s Hoard is aiming to establish itself as a destination for collectors and fans across the region.

And for Mr Clarkson, simply opening the doors has already marked a major milestone.

After three decades of imagining what such a shop could be, he is now inviting others to step inside and discover it for themselves.

Odin’s Hoard is based at High Street, Prince Bishops Place in Durham city centre and is open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10.30am to 4pm on Sundays.