David Torres, 43, the owner of Thrive Reno, is wearing black to stay clean amid the whizzing of multiple print jobs at his new location in north Reno, just above the University of Nevada, from where he gets many clients.
The Bridgeport, Connecticut native, with heritage from Puerto Rico, has been in Reno since 2006, where he's also known for his cosplay, and visiting Renown Children's Hospital dressed up as Ironman.
"I remember on my way up to the children’s ward, a nurse stopped me and said that they need me up there," he remembers. "The ward was packed with two kids per room, so she knew they needed some joy and a little bit of superhero magic. This was a mission that I’ll always cherish."
On the left at the entrance of Thrive Reno there’s a photo of Torres as Ironman comforting a sick child.
Workwise, he says he lost his job during the pandemic, and having worked for others in printing previously, he decided to start his own business in his own garage.
Torres proved his mettle and quickly outgrew that space within one year, initially setting up a brick and mortar shop on Market Street. Torres chose the new location on North Virginia Street to save $800 per month and give easy parking access to customers and quicker delivery to some of his casino clients.
"We advanced and thrived and completely thrived, and here we are now," he says pun intended. "We're doing it. We're making it happen. And I'm just happy to be a part of the community and happy to bring our flavor."
Thrive Reno is a full in house shop with design and digital marketing capabilities, specializing in direct mail projects, postcards, menus, company stationary, labels, booklets, posters, flyers, brochures, business forms and t-shirts.
He says growing up poor in a bad neighborhood has given him resilience and the ability to adapt. Torres says he does have anxiety and panic attacks, but just like Ironman he works to overcome these challenges.
"When there's a will, there's a way," he says of his business acumen. "As cliche and as old school as that sounds, when there's a will, there's a way."