FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The “godfather of shock” picked up a souvenir of Fort Wayne ahead of a performance in the city Tuesday.
Alice Cooper visited Vintage Treasures Antique Mall, according to the store’s Facebook post, and found an 1840s-era sword that he planned to use in Tuesday night’s show at the Memorial Coliseum.
Cooper made a stop in the Summit City on the Too Close for Comfort 2023 tour. The stage show typically features electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood, and boa constrictors.
A fan at the show, Dylan Lechleidner, said Cooper brought out the sword for the opening song that night.
Jonele Bilby, co-owner of Vintage Treasures, said Cooper wanted to see inside some of the cases that contain items on display.
“He was very down to earth,” Bilby said.
Cooper was in the store with his wife, Sheryl Goddard, when he was noticed by Todd Berndt, who runs a comic store inside of Vintage Treasures as a vendor.
“He was walking around with his wife and I happened to look up and I was like, Alice Cooper? He waved, came over and introduced himself and we had a short conversation,” Berndt said.
Bilby said she got a text while in her office saying Alice Cooper was currently in her store.
The entrance to Vintage Treasures Antique Mall on Coliseum Boulevard in Fort Wayne. 
Todd Berndt operates Berndt Comics and Collectibles within Vintage Treasures. 
Vintage Treasures offers a wide variety of vintage antique items. 
Inside of Vintage Treasures. 
The store specializes in all different items and caters to everybody. 
Vintage Treasures Antique Mall had a famous customer that visited the store while on tour in Fort Wayne.
“When I came out, he was looking in some cases at some items. He wanted to see some of our military items,” Bilby said. “He saw the sword in there and pulled it out and he was excited because it didn’t weigh too much and it was the perfect size.”
Cooper then lifted up the sword and told Bilby that he planned to use it during his show.
She said it was really exciting to see him happy about an item in her store.
“His wife was talking to me about how she tours with him and is part of his shows. She showed me the costumes she wears on stage,” she added.
Other than the sword, Cooper also purchased military pins and some Nancy Drew books.
“He purchased some really random stuff,” she said.
Cooper told Bilby that he enjoyed her store and that Vintage Treasures offered a good variety of items.
