Comic fan John is hoping to be a ROCCO winner

The finalists in the search for Renfrewshire’s Favourite Business have been announced – and the winner is down to you.

Six fantastic firms have been shortlisted for the prestigious category at this year’s ROCCO Awards, run by Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce.

Now in their 14th year, the ROCCOs are described as the premier business event in Renfrewshire, which will be hosted again by ROCCO regular funnyman Fred MacAulay at the Normandy Hotel in Renfrew.

The six nominees in the running for the favourite business award, sponsored by the Paisley Daily Express, are Cafe Su in Paisley; Comicrazy; Elderslie Butchers and Coffee Shop; last year’s winners Origins Fitness; Pandamonium; and The Cave.

The poll closes next week on October 26, and the Express has profiled each of the six businesses in the running. Today it’s the turn of Comicrazy. From a small corner in the Paisley Centre’s In Shops, Comicrazy has grown to have its own premises in the town’s Well Street as well as a devoted fan following.

Owner John Gilbert spotted a gap in the market for a comic book store in the town and launched the shop in February 2016.

He explained: “I saw there were a lot of shops like this in Glasgow and Edinburgh, even Hamilton so I wondered if Paisley could have it’s own comic book shop.

“We started off with the comics and then started to do more gaming and that’s really taken off.

“People can come in here and sit and play – there’s a real social aspect to it.

“We want to give young people an alternative to going out and drinking. They can come here and it’s a safe space where you can meet like-minded people.”

John organises events and admits the shop has become a social hub as much as a place to indulge your hobby.

He’s delighted to be nominated as one of Renfrewshire’s favourite businesses.

“It was really cool. It made things worthwhile. We’re very much a community business so I think it’s really nice.

“It’s a little bit of acknowledgement that we’re doing something right.”

 The online poll is open on the Paisley Daily Express website at https://goo.gl/ jjv5Xf and all our readers are encouraged to take part.

The company with the most votes by the time voting closes on October 26 will be crowned the winner at the glittering awards ceremony on Friday, November 17.