The Joker’s Child
12-23 River Road
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
201-794-6830
Fax: 201-794-3379
Business Hours:
Sunday 12:00 Noon – 6 PM
Monday, 12:00 Noon – 7 PM
Wednesday – Friday, 12:00 Noon – 8 PM
Saturday 8:30 AM – 5 PM
Closed Tuesdays
Caren and Len Katz’s store in Fair Lawn is a treasure trove of comic books, collectibles, and more that attracts fans of all ages, from all over. And, they’ve been drawing an appreciative crowd for 18 years.
The Katzes opened The Joker’s Child in 1988, moving to their current River Road location 9 years ago. Born from their personal collections and passion for their – up to that time – hobbies, the store soon became a major area source for action figures, collectibles, movie memorabilia, Japanese anime books and graphic novels, as well as thousands of comic books. The visible stock represents only a small portion of their inventory; they also have warehouse space elsewhere in Fair Lawn.
The Joker’s Child, with 2,600 square feet of space (four times the size of the original store), is a comfortable place with wide aisles to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers—well lit, with intriguing cases of popular collectible figures and racks to display newly released comic books.
The store has a real “club” atmosphere, with Len and Caren always ready to engage in lively conversation with, and enlighten, the customers who share their enthusiasm. They definitely know their stuff! And know their customers as well, who always feel welcome.
Caren explained how they carefully analyzed many factors before deciding on Fair Lawn as a perfect location for The Joker’s Child. They liked what they found – a town with good schools and a sense of community, with a location on a busy street, convenient to major highways.
The majority of their customers are in their early- to mid-teens, and Caren remarked that it’s always gratifying to have their customers from the early days come in with their children; in fact, Sunday is usually a family day at The Joker’s Child. The Katzes are, in turn, supportive of the local community schools, churches, temples, and other organizations.
The Joker’s Child is a unique establishment, and Len and Caren are always ready with a warm welcome for both old and new customers.