What started out as carrying on a hobby he shared with his dad has turned into a successful business venture and provincial recognition for a Grande Prairie resident.
Imperial Garden Sports Collectibles owner Kenney Der was presented the 2014 Alberta Business Award of Distinction for Young Entrepreneur over the weekend.
Der thinks his dad would be proud of how far the business has come since it opened in 2010.
“It’s nice to know that I’m living my dad’s dream too, running a sports memorabilia store, because I know it’s something he probably would have loved doing maybe when he got older and retired and moved away from the restaurant side of things.”
Located inside the Imperial Garden Restaurant owned by his mother, Der says he opened the store to fill a need for an affordable sports collectibles store in Grande Prairie.
He says he was both shocked and honoured to receive the award, adding it feels great to be recognized after putting in a lot of hard work and long hours to get the business off the ground.