Olujoke Brimah always believed her son was bright.

At an early age, Umar was constantly constructing tall skyscrapers and residential homes out of Lego pieces.

She was convinced he would become an architect one day.

But after his recent career venture, Brimah now believes her son may be destined for a different job path.

Earlier this year, the 12-year-old Central Junior High School student achieved what some people only may dream about — owning a business.

"I knew he had talent but I didn't know he was this gifted," Brimah said of her son's Yumazu Anime and Collectibles. "It's not that often that you see a kid his age open his own business."

Originally opened in March at 813 Broadway, in the property that will soon be occupied by Mississippi Mud House coffee shop, the store sells items from a style of animation known as anime which is used in television series, films, Internet-based releases and video games. Popular franchises include Death Note, Bleach and Naruto.

The store, which moved to its new location at 520 Broadway earlier this month, sells items such as backpacks, costumes, CDs, posters, playing cards and T-shirts.

"I have always been a fan of anime and knew this area needed a store like this," Umar said. "So far, it's been a great experience."

Currently, the store is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but Brimah hopes to expand the operating hours.

A religious woman, Brimah believes the shop is a gift from God.

"This is how God works," said Brimah, a physician at Saint Francis Medical Center. "So many things have worked out in so many unique ways that it could only have happened with help from him."

Last year, when a friend of Brimah's was opening a religious supply store on Broadway, she requested her son be given space inside the building. Using the book "How To Start Your Own Business" as a guide, Umar introduced his plan to Brimah's friend.

After looking at the proposed plan, the friend declined the request on the basis that she believed anime items would not sell well alongside her merchandise. However, Brimah explained, her friend said Umar had "business sense she had never seen."

Earlier this year, when Umar found a vacant building that had been previously occupied by Perfume's on Broadway to start his business, Brimah sought the help of family friend and anthropologist Stephen Gitau, who ordered the store's merchandise.

From the outset, Gitau was impressed with the youngster's keen sense of business.

"When I placed the first order of items Umar had picked out from the Internet, I asked the company for suggestions," said Gitau, who has managed the store since its inception. "When I asked for good ideas for products, they told me they had no recommendations because whomever had picked out the items chose exactly what they would have."

When the store opened in March, daily sales averaged $30. Now, receipts are about $200 a day.

Umar hopes his advertising campaign is successful in expanding the business to reach his diverse clientele, which includes fans as young as elementary school children to adults in their 30s or older. Brimah and Umar have advertised through fliers and on a kiosk in Cape Girardeau's West Park Mall.

While the store mainly reaches people in the Cape Girardeau area, Umar has plans to expand his market as far north as St. Louis. He also wants to start clubs featuring anime video game competitions among its fans.

For Brimah, her goal is to encourage Umar in his business venture. She hopes her investment of $10,000 in his anime business pays off in the long run.

"I just want to encourage him every step of the way," Brimah said. "It's not every day that a 12-year-old will venture out and start his own business that grows to be a successful one indeed."

Gitau echoed the thought.

"A lot of kids his age will have a big goal like being president," Gitau said. "And that's as far as they go — by just saying they want to do something.

"But with Umar it's different," he added. "He said he wanted to start his own business, and he acutally put into practice what he said. And the sky is only the limit for this young man."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137