For lifelong Craig resident Shaun Hadley, the path to becoming a business owner has always been built on hard work and perseverance. From asphalt and construction jobs to opening Craig’s first medical dispensary, Hadley has never shied away from the labor that goes into making things happen.

But his latest venture, Hadley’s Hope Collectibles, Video Games and Creativity Center, isn’t just about commerce — it’s about creating a place where imagination and innovation come together in Craig.

Hadley’s new business, which recently won first place in the startup category of the 2025 Craig Business Plan Competition, represents the realization of a personal dream and an investment in the community.

Billed as a hybrid entertainment and creativity hub, the project aims to bring people together around gaming, design and innovation in an environment that encourages learning, connection and creativity.

“I wanted something that me and my kids could go do together,” Hadley said. “But I also wanted to provide Craig with a place where people could be creative and where families could come together, learn and have fun.”

Hadley’s background is as diverse as his businesses. After high school he worked in manual labor before training to become an electrician. In 2009, he opened Craig Apothecary, the city’s first medical dispensary, and later operated the recreational Honeybear Apothecary Dispensary.

Along the way, he discovered his passion for toy design and 3-D printing, which turned into a creative company called High on Plastic Toys.

Through that company, Hadley and a partner designed and produced collectible figures, many based on public domain characters or licensed pop-culture icons. One of his proudest accomplishments was developing a licensed figure of Oderous from the band GWAR.

“It’s been a lifelong love of toys and creativity,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to take the things I’ve learned including design, modeling, and production and teach them to others.”

That creativity, mixed with the knowledge and drive to get things done, ultimately led him to the business competition.

“I wanted to make something that could inspire people here the way I was inspired,” he said. “If you can take a dream and turn it into something real, that’s the ultimate goal.”

That dream became the foundation for Hadley’s Hope Collectibles, Video Games and Creativity Center, a name that nods both to his family and to his optimism for the project. The center will combine a gaming lounge, 3-D printing and modeling workshops, and community events focused on collaboration and creativity, with plans to also host birthday parties and possibly even date nights for adults.

Hadley envisions the business having themed gaming zones for popular titles like “Fortnite,” kaiju and monster-themed games along with spaces for board games like “Pokémon” and “Magic: The Gathering.”

He plans to add 3-D printers, modeling software stations and creative classes where participants can learn how to design, prototype and even crowdfund their own products.

“It’s going to look like the basement I always wanted growing up,” he said with a laugh. “Cool lighting, gaming setups, and a place where everyone from kids to families feel welcome.”

Additionally, Hadley said the center is designed to bring people together physically as well as through online gaming.

“These days everyone’s in separate rooms on headsets,” he said. “When I was a kid, we all played together in the same room. This is my way of building community around games.”

Hadley first entered the Craig Business Plan Competition in 2024 but didn’t advance beyond the early rounds. Rather than give up, he spent the next year working closely with the Small Business Development Center as he revised his plan, tightened his financials and learned to tell his story.

“Working with Scott from the SBDC made a world of difference,” Hadley said. “He helped me understand what investors want to see, how to turn my ideas into a real story and how to make the numbers make sense.”

Shannon Scott, Economic Development Manager for the City of Craig, said that commitment showed through in Hadley’s plan in every phase of this year’s competition.

“You could tell he really put in the work,” Scott said. “He utilized the free services of the SBDC, met with their consultants and refined every part of his plan. That effort was obvious, and the judges recognized it.”

This year’s competition drew 11 entries, more than double last year’s total, with seven advancing to the final phase. Hadley’s project stood out not just for its originality but also for how well it addressed a longstanding community need.

“Hadley’s Hope Collectibles is something Craig doesn’t currently have,” Scott said. “We hear all the time that we need more things for people to do in the winter and more safe, creative spaces for kids and families. Shaun’s business brings all of that together with creativity, gaming and community.”

When Hadley learned he had won, the moment was emotional.

“It was a weird mix of feelings,” he said. “An hour before the announcement, I’d had to say goodbye to my dog, so I was going from one extreme to the other. But even through that, I was so grateful. It was amazing.”

His family shared that excitement.

“My son came home the next day with a notebook full of ideas from his friends about what they wanted to see,” he said. “It’s been amazing watching them get excited about it too.”

Scott said that reaction captures what the business is designed to do as it rewards community innovation as much as business ideas.

“These contestants put in a huge amount of effort,” she said. “You can feel their excitement when they win, but what’s really rewarding is seeing them turn that motivation into real progress. In Shaun’s case, he’s already working on finding a location and purchasing equipment. That momentum is exactly what we want to see.”

Hadley hopes to open the center by February 2026, depending on location and equipment setup. The work ahead includes finding a building, securing gaming and printing systems and developing class schedules — all tasks he says will take “a whole lot of sweat equity.”

“It’s time for the real work now,” he said. “But, I’m ready for it.”

Scott said Hadley’s Hope also reflects a broader shift in Craig’s economic landscape into one where creativity and technology are becoming as vital as traditional industries.

“There’s a huge opportunity here,” she said. “A lot of what Shaun does, from design to e-commerce, has the potential to bring outside revenue into Craig. That’s the kind of sustainable growth we want to support.”

Hadley, meanwhile, remains grounded in the values that brought him this far.

“I’ve owned a lot of businesses, but this one’s special,” he said. “It’s not just about me. It’s about giving people a place to create, to connect and to bring their ideas to life.”