The Closing of Comic Shops

oldjello · Post by **oldjello** » Sun Aug 28, 2005 11:34 pm

I am in need of some long boxes, so I figured to purchase them at my favorite stop.
I went back home over the weekend to find out the comic book store I shopped at since I was a kid-- IS NO LONGER!

A sign sat inside of the empty space saying "for lease" on it. I am pouring a little liquor tonight for all the fallen comic book stores around the world-- and around all of you that have suffered the same fate.

So... to All Star Comics and Cards... here's to you. They were an honest shop, and I'm glad I have the memories. I even remember the smell.

If you would like to add your stories... or maybe the shop you frequent is still there...CHIME IN. List your favorite shop.

All Star Comics and Cards... R.I.P. 2005.

Mr.V · Post by **Mr.V** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 9:42 pm

oldjello wrote:I am in need of some long boxes, so I figured to purchase them at my favorite stop.
I went back home over the weekend to find out the comic book store I shopped at since I was a kid-- IS NO LONGER!

A sign sat inside of the empty space saying "for lease" on it. I am pouring a little liquor tonight for all the fallen comic book stores around the world-- and around all of you that have suffered the same fate.

So... to All Star Comics and Cards... here's to you. They were an honest shop, and I'm glad I have the memories. I even remember the smell.

If you would like to add your stories... or maybe the shop you frequent is still there...CHIME IN. List your favorite shop.

All Star Comics and Cards... R.I.P. 2005.

Where was this shop at???? I work in Chicago and I never heard of it

Mr.V

speedracex · Post by **speedracex** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 9:49 pm

Dreamscape Comics in Easton PA, there were 2 stores, but the one in Easton was the first shop I went to, it closed years back, 99/2000 maybe??

There was also a shop in PA called Monsters, never had the chance to go there as a kid

Bats & Bugs, Washington NJ, my first local, 2 miles down the road shop, where I was first introduced to Valiant Comics, didnt last to much longer than a year. Closed in 94?

One more shop that was in Hackettstown NJ, I cant remeber the name for the life of me, I think it was Dreamers Comics, closed in 97?

wow, that was fun R.I.P

wrunow · Post by **wrunow** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:13 pm

Dover Cards and Comics in Dover NH, used to visit there once or twice a month to empty my subscription box, owner was a great guy. Lost all his books to water damage in a small fire. Got screwed by the insurance companies and had to bail.

I often see a long time comic hawker in the area at shows giving away the water damaged books (yes for free) at the small local shows in the area. Good reading copies.

mrwoogieman · Post by **mrwoogieman** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 10:19 pm

I've got a list as long as my arm, seeing how half of all shops in the country went out of business in a short span around 1995-2000.

One I miss when I think about it is Forbidden Planet in NYC. Sure, there's some truncated modern junk store on Union Square that shares the name FP, but it isn't the REAL one, the multi-story funhouse with the creaking wooden floors that had scads of back issue bins to search and no one hassling anyone about how long they were lingering in the store. Ah, memories...

oldjello · Post by **oldjello** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 11:57 pm

Where was this shop at???? I work in Chicago and I never heard of it

Mr.V

In Mishawaka, just East of South Bend. I have been shopping there since I was a kid.[/quote]

Unblessed · Post by **Unblessed** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 12:40 am

mrwoogieman wrote: One I miss when I think about it is Forbidden Planet in NYC. Sure, there's some truncated modern junk store on Union Square that shares the name FP, but it isn't the REAL one, the multi-story funhouse with the creaking wooden floors that had scads of back issue bins to search and no one hassling anyone about how long they were lingering in the store. Ah, memories...

When I was a young teenager, I remember dreaming of visiting FP in NYC. I remember their ads in the books from back in the day. Wow... Hard to believe, huh?

What was the shop (distributor) in Gainsville, VA that had the ads in comics back then? I can't remember their name. Mile High had their yellow page.

Since posting, my "must get more info OCD" kicked in and I got THIS!

~The Unblessed Soul

ibreakhorses · Post by **ibreakhorses** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 2:12 am

oldjello wrote:
Where was this shop at???? I work in Chicago and I never heard of it

Mr.V
In Mishawaka, just East of South Bend. I have been shopping there since I was a kid.

[/quote]
Is this the comic book store that was on Mckinley off of Grape road? The store with the old guy that would constantly stare at the customers, because he thought they were going to steal something. The old guy talked real slow? Is this the one?

oldjello · Post by **oldjello** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 1:18 pm

ibreakhorses wrote:
oldjello wrote:
Where was this shop at???? I work in Chicago and I never heard of it

Mr.V
In Mishawaka, just East of South Bend. I have been shopping there since I was a kid.

Is this the comic book store that was on Mckinley off of Grape road? The store with the old guy that would constantly stare at the customers, because he thought they were going to steal something. The old guy talked real slow? Is this the one?[/quote]

Yes it was. His name was John, and he had a kind of white mans fro with glasses, and was a bit cross-eyed. Ownership changed hands within the last 5 years to one of his employees. After that, I don't know. I can also remember two other shops in the area-- Knappy's and Memory Lane. Memory Lane sucked the biggest butt of all comic book shops. The guy who ran it didn't care if he was stealing candy from a baby-- i.e. young comic book fans.

dave · Post by **dave** » Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:59 pm

when i moved to "metro detroit" 6 years ago-there were at least 10 comci shops i could drive to-now there are only 6-3 of those are far far away (ann arbor) and 2 of the close ones are terrible (one guy smokes in his shop

) and the other guy is overweight (not that there's anything wrong with that) but he sits on his stool and acts mad if you make him get up to take your money! (it's ok his selection is so bad it's rare i purchase anything...) so that leaves only 3 good ones! (i miscounted at the beginning!)

Sect · Post by **Sect** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 1:56 am

Yeah I hear what you guys are saying.

I used to have 5 comic shops in my nearby area. I'm talking like 3 were within reasonable walking distance and the other 2 a quick drive. They are all gone now.

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:12 pm

A toast to "Second Foundation" in Chapel Hill, NC. Not the most personable owner, but it was just a cool little store, hidden in a cool little college town. A former employee bought the place, sold all the old stock, moved to a more favourable location, and only sells NEW BOOKS, nothing over a few months old. They really suck now, except for the fact that sometimes they will have issues on the rack a few months old that are HTF and can fetch a few dollars on eBay. I think it's called "Chapel Hill Comics" now, a name as bland as their store.

-slym

danthecomicman · Post by **danthecomicman** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 7:18 pm

There was a LCS in my university town of Kingston, Ontario called Cosmic Comic and Cards.

The original owner wasn't all that friendly, but he sold the business to a younger and friendlier guy. The place brightened up and I was there almost everyday after classes.

Unfortunately, a good personality and a place that knows your name doesn't keep a store in business. It closed down in my last year of undergrad, but I still have fond memories of the place.

D.

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 7:31 pm

Mine was Claudes Comics (1992-98 RIP).
Man that place was great! The owner Steve was a really great guy, really into comics.
Introduced me to alot of peolpe in the business (most were from Valiant).
Introduced me to comics I normaly would pass over.

Also had a GREAT Black Lab named Claude.
Every Wendsday and Friday when I went in for my comics, there she'd be with her tennisball in mouth, wanting to play for a little bit before I left with my books.

If it wasn't for Claudes Comics, I would have stoped collecting comcis.
They made it fun again

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 2:44 am

mrwoogieman wrote:I've got a list as long as my arm, seeing how half of all shops in the country went out of business in a short span around 1995-2000.

One I miss when I think about it is Forbidden Planet in NYC. Sure, there's some truncated modern junk store on Union Square that shares the name FP, but it isn't the REAL one, the multi-story funhouse with the creaking wooden floors that had scads of back issue bins to search and no one hassling anyone about how long they were lingering in the store. Ah, memories...

Ahhhhh....FP was a LEGEND.

ZephyrWasHOT!! · Post by **ZephyrWasHOT!!** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 2:47 am

Fact, Fiction, and Fantasy in Livermore CA, which became Fantasy Books & Games, and sold most of their stock to Langes Sports in 2003-ish.

Clay's Comics in Hayward, CA, who taught me that not everyone has to get top dollar for everything they have.

The Land of Nevawuz, Danville, CA the very first real comic store I ever went into, on a cool February night in 1990 (you can blame them for me being here.)

Halley's Comics in Pleasanton & Hayward, who screwed me over, but generally were decent.

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