Ron Patriquin at his store Hot Deals Cool Wheels on Tranquille Road on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019.

(KAREN EDWARDS / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - As you walk in, the first thing you’ll notice is each wall covered in hundreds of miniature toy cars hanging from racks that start at the ceiling and reach down to the floor.

There’s multiple glass counters around the small shop each filled with various Hot Wheels from different eras, themes and sizes.

Ron Patriquin is the owner of Hot Deals Cool Wheels located in the North Shore of Kamloops at 359 Tranquille Rd.

Although he recently moved into this location this past summer, he originally opened his store dedicated to the popular miniature toys more than two decades ago. But it only lasted for a few years.

Fast forward to today, and he’s now been open for business at his new location for a few short months, and business has been booming, he says.

“It’s 750-square feet of just Hot Wheels,” he says. “On Saturday from 9:30 to 4:30 I had 20 people in the store at all times. It’s just been craziness.”

Hot Deals Cool Wheels recently opened in the North Shore of Kamloops.

(KAREN EDWARDS / iNFOnews.ca)

Patriquin, who is a collector himself, says there are roughly 12,000 Hot Wheels toys in his store.

The wall at the back, dubbed the ‘blue wall’, is lined with wooden and glass shelves stacked with Hot Wheels from his own collection, none of them in boxes — these ones aren’t for sale.

“Those are there just to give the average guy an idea of what he can do for his man cave. Because unfortunately most guys are only allowed to keep them in a box," he says laughing.

He gets most of his product from people who come in who want to sell their collections and from other stores around the Interior.

His customers range in age from children that come in with their parents to adults looking to expand their collections.

“I’ve got people who come in and they just want a certain one. These are guys who have been collecting for God knows how long,” he says.

He’s had people visit him from all over the Interior, Alberta, the Lower Mainland and the Cariboo visit Kamloops to check out his unique shop.

“I’ve had people come from Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna, Vancouver and I had a lady from 100 Mile House,” he says.

Depending on the type, the toys range in price anywhere from $2 to $200.

The owner, Ron Patriquin, showing off an original Hot Wheels case from the 1970s at his store Hot Deals Cool Wheels.

(KAREN EDWARDS / iNFOnews.ca)

A Redline Hot Wheel is in the $200 range. These are the classic models that were made in the 1960s, he says.

In his own collection, Patriquin says he has roughly 20,000 cars.

One of his own favourite pieces in the store include an original case that is used to store Hot Wheels toys that was made in the 1970s.

Patriquin hopes more people find out about his store to check out his merchandise.

He says the location is a prime spot as there is constant traffic from other shops close by. A nearby pawn shop and craft store also seem to attract customers his way, he says.

“It’s just taken off,” he says.

One of the thousands of miniature cars on display at the Kamloops store, Hot Deals Cool Wheels.

(KAREN EDWARDS / iNFOnews.ca)

Some of the collectibles for sale at Hot Deals Cool Wheels.

(KAREN EDWARDS / iNFOnews.ca)

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