For the Love of Mankind

By Tyler Maheu
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
CLAREMONT— On Thursday, June 30, 2022, former WWE Superstar Mick Foley held a meet-and-greet event at One Last Life on Pleasant Street in Claremont.

In order to meet Mrs. Foley’s Baby Boy, customers had to purchase tickets either through presale or at the door. According to store owner Chris LaClair, the event was a huge success. “We had over 300 paid customers come through the door,” stated LaClair. “Mick was mind blown, as we met his event minimum through presales alone.”

While the event proved to be lucrative, getting the former Cactus Jack to Claremont was no small task. LaClair stated that this was an opportunity two years in the making. “Two years ago, I had asked my audience who they’d want for my first event. We started small, some cosplay and a cast member from the Mandalorian. They overwhelmingly said they wanted Mick.” With a nudge in this direction from his customer’s, LaClair got to work. “I began DM’ing (direct messaging) him and his representatives. After a year of trying, I saw that Maine Vintage Toys was (sic) hosting him, and through a relationship with them, they gave me the contact for his agent.”

Although the wheels were rolling, it took another year before Thursday’s event could take place. Luckily for LaClair and local residents, Dude Love (Foley) had scheduled his trip to Santa’s Village to do charity work for this week. This made it easier to coordinate, as airfare from his home in Florida and hotel accommodation was not needed.

By all accounts, the meet made for a great experience. “According to Mick, Claremont is the second-smallest community he has ever done this in,” said LaClair. “He was great. At the end, we let in a few people to introduce themselves and he still stayed around.” When asked if he had followed Foley’s career, LaClair said, “Of course. But, and I told him this. I have two words to describe Mick and those are ‘role model’. Above everything he did in his career he really helps people and that’s what I hope I can do.”

For LaClair, while the event should provide a boon to his business, he hopes he can put on more events like this to provide a beacon of hope for the Claremont community. “I really set this up for the community, not to make money off of it,” he said. “I saw people in here happy, smiling, some crying from joy, that is what it is about. I really wanted to involve everyone.” Holding this meet-and-greet should also help build relationships, providing opportunity for more likewise events in the future, LaClair hopes.

LaClair finished by thanking his wife for all his help setting up the meet. “I could’ve never done this without the support of my wife.”