Tribute
Every shop has a story. This one starts before the shelves were built, before the neon sign was hung, before Ben even knew he'd be collecting for a living. It starts with the family that made him.
From the youngest age, family has been everything to me. I look back at my childhood and remember the best times of my life — a single mother raising me, with help from immediate family. Grandmother, uncles, aunts, and cousins were all I knew. I wouldn't change a thing.
My grandmother (Mom's mom) Joan Ranne was the glue — she was our everything. Without HER, there was no Ranne Day Thrift. She helped raise me, and until the day she left us in 2020, even though she suffered from MS for over 20 years, without knowing it, she was the strongest person in the family. She was my everything, and always will be.
Uncle Charlie Ranne, who passed away in 2024, was someone I considered my best friend in the family — besides Mom, obviously. Since I was young I remember him, my Aunt, and my 3 cousins walking up our stairs during Christmas or Easter or just anytime we had family functions. It's the clearest memory of him I have. Fast forward years, he and I would hang out, have a couple of drinks while listening to classic music, go out to eat, and he would visit me when I owned my Retro Cafe to have our cappuccino. We had plans together, dreams, and an amazing relationship. He was a huge inspiration and help with all things life, and I miss him every single day. I needed 20 more years with him.
Uncle Wayne Ranne, Charlie's brother, passed 2 months after him, and it was numbing to the family to lose both so close together. However, my Uncle Wayne, along with Charlie, were two huge father figures for me growing up — when I didn't even know I needed one. They were there for literally everything in my life. Wayne was the funniest, craziest dude I've ever had in my life. My 2 childhood friends and I used to make home movies back in the early 90s, and he was crazy enough to star in one — the absolute craziest 2-minute cameo ever, which I still watch today. I miss him.
Uncle Stevie Ranne passed right before my Grandmother. He had problems in life with substance abuse, but we loved him and always tried to help — and that didn't take away from him having the biggest heart and always trying to help his family. He might have been sick, but he was the reason I love horror and other things I love so much to this day.
Cousin Jason Ranne was my older cousin and Charlie's son, who passed away way too soon in 2022. He was part of the 3 cousins who gave me so many great memories of summers, holidays, and just every family function. He was more than a cousin — he was a true friend and supporter. The kindest human to ever walk this Earth, he had so much respect and love for all, and is so missed by his family.