"I had a job I loved for 10 years, but wanted to do other things," said Tim Nissley, who has run Phinney Books for the last two years.
Jeopardy! made this Washington man’s dreams come true — not because of his success on television — but because of what he was able to do with his winnings.
Tom Nissley, an 8-time Jeopardy! winner, has been running Phinney Books for the last two years.
“A lot of the fun of it is just seeing people and dealing with the surprises of the day,” Nissley said in a video posted on Jeopardy!’s Facebook page. “Seeing what people want to read and talking to people about what I love to read."
He explained that he purchased the shop when he noticed a book store for sale in his neighborhood, despite never having considered becoming a bookstore owner before.
“I had a job I loved for 10 years, but wanted to do other things,” he said.
Nissley said if it wasn’t for winning more than $235,000 on the game show, he wouldn’t have been able realize his dream.
And, thanks to his quiz show fame, Nissley said he’s even made new friends around the country, who have reached out to congratulate him on his success, or visit from out of town to check out his bookstore.
Read: 'Jeopardy!' Contestant Tricks Alex Trebek into Saying 'Turd Ferguson'
“The craziest thing is getting to blow up your life, in a good way,” he said.
Nissley’s story is just one of the many successes of the game show in its 33 years on television.
In addition to being the reason for lavish gifts, the show has been credited for teaching some avid watchers English, or making classroom learning fun.
Host Alex Trebek calls it the J!Effect, or “the power of Jeopardy!”
Watch: Dying Contestant Donates Jeaopardy Winnings to Cancer Charity
