Are there even any comic book stores near you anymore?

[p4poetic]

Nope, not even. There's a very tiny rack of comic books at Borders near my job (Manhattan).

[yenaled]

...right... there are no comic book stores in New York...

sure.

[terry78]

Originally Posted by yenaled

...right... there are no comic book stores in New York...

sure.

LOL, the one major city that publishes all the ****ing things, huh?

[Dread]

In the 90's I used to have 4-7 comic book stories within about a mile of my apartment in Brooklyn (usually less). Y'know how many of those still exist? As of about 2003 or so, zero. None. Nada.

There still are about 2-3 comic shops in my area, but it takes a 15-30 minute bus ride or drive to get to either. I usually go to GALAXY COMICS in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, most weeks. WOLVERINE25TH used to go there under their prior owner.

In Manhattan, of course, you have Cosmic Comics on 23rd street, Midtown Comics in two locations (Times Square and Grand Central Station), Forbidden Planet in the Village, and Jim Hanley's Universe across the street from the Empire State Building.

[TheCorpulent1]

Do you know what happened to any of the stores around your apartment specifically?

[Dread]

Originally Posted by TheCorpulent1

Do you know what happened to any of the stores around your apartment specifically?

They all closed down, one by one over the period of maybe 5-10 years.

The last one was a bookstore that stopped selling new comics a few years before it closed.

Most of them are cell-phone shops now.

[TheCorpulent1]

Ouch. Rocked by technology.

[tzarinna]

FANTOM COMICS, LLC
UNION STATION STREET LEVEL, WEST HALL
50 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NE
WASHINGTON, DC
(202) 216-9478

BIG MONKEY COMICS
1722-B 14TH ST NW
WASHINGTON, DC
(202) 333-8650

BIG PLANET COMICS OF COLLEGE PARK
7315 BALTIMORE AVE
COLLEGE PARK, MD
(301) 699-0498


I've only been to the College Park one, it's way closer. I had no idea there was one in Union Station, I love that place. Only other one is in my hometown, which is a bit of a drive to get to.

[Dread]

Originally Posted by TheCorpulent1

Ouch. Rocked by technology.

A few are cell phone shops. One is a hair salon. Another is a convenience store and one or two are still FOR RENT. It does get a little depressing.

[TheCorpulent1]

How long a trip is it from your apartment to Midtown or one of the other big shops?

[Dread]

Originally Posted by TheCorpulent1

How long a trip is it from your apartment to Midtown or one of the other big shops?

The big Manhattan ones? Least an hour or more by subway train. Sometimes by two trains for some.

[TheCorpulent1]

That sucks. But at least you don't have to deal with traffic.

[Dread]

No, just often late trains.

Basically I only buy comics in Manhattan if I happen to be in the area on Wednesday due to work, or I missed a comic at the local shop. Galaxy Comics in Bay Ridge offers 10% off after $15 worth and free bags & boards. All the shops in Manhattan charge for boards, and some even tack on tax, which is over 8%.

In terms of Brooklyn shops, there's the aforementioned Galaxy Comics in Bay Ridge, next to a movie theater. There's Bulletproof Comics about 20-30 minutes away by bus near the campus of Brooklyn College. And there's the oddly mentioned Pinocchio Discounts about an equal distance away by bus in another direction. They had two locations, but the first close. They have good back issue bins, but the place is in such a bizarre area I wonder how they stay in business. Pinocchio is my first option when Galaxy sells out of something (such as GOTG twice).

Pinocciho is probably the only shop in my area that is within "walking distance", if one feels like walking more than a mile.

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

I may live in the best area for comic book shops, bay area.

Right off the top of my head I can think of six comic book shops within a 15 or so mile radius and four of them are within a five mile radius of where I live. There are actually a lot of comic book shops in my area.

After doing a quick yellow pages glance there are more I forgot about.

Eight comic shops within an eight mile raidus or so.

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Yesterday was a very sad day for me.

I went around town to make a stop at a couple local comic shops looking for a Silver Surfer statue I want to buy. I made the first stop at one of the stores that I know had it but apparently they had finally sold it in the last weeks or couple months.

So I took a trip to one that I used to live by when I was younger and purchased many comic books from when I was younger. A lot actually, half probably come from the first comic book store I ever went to with my dad when I was 2 or so and the other half came from this store that was brand new and had just opened near where I lived when I was in junior high.

I walk in yesterday and the store was completely changed. Their back issues have dwindled down drastically, they have put in tables for card game playing (not a big deal) and they have changed the only a few weeks old comic section from sitting on wooden shelves to sitting on metal crates.

I didn't like it at all, it didn't feel like a comic book store. I was so bummed, I don't think I will be going back there very much from now on.

[PyroChamber]

Originally Posted by terry78

There were like 3 where I lived back in like the mid 90s, now the only one I know of is downtown Chicago on Madison...if you live here, you know where it is.

Yeah, this is where I go for all my comic needs.

Downtown Chicago is lacking a lot of cool places since they closed the Virgin Megastore, there's not even a good place to buy video games except FYE.

[TheCorpulent1]

MegaComics, my comic shop for the last 5 or 6 years closes today. Apparently the owners were hit hard by the downturn in the economy and they had some kind of personal troubles, so they decided to close the shop. It wasn't a terribly wonderful shop, since it was apparently pretty tough to convince the owners to order much of anything beyond Marvel, DC, and Image unless it sold really well, but the guys at the counter were nice and they tried to help their fellow comic fans out with special orders where they could. I'll miss the place.

But there is a silver lining: The closing of MegaComics meant, of course, that I had to seek out a new shop. I knew of 3 in my city--one was a college textbook shop with a small comic section, so that was out, and another seems to be little more than a pet project for the owner, since he gets new issues very infrequently, doesn't offer subscriptions, and only opens the shop for a few hours each week. That left a comic/sports memorabilia shop about a mile or two away from MegaComics. After hearing the news that MegaComics was closing, I went over there a bit wary because I've found that any shop that mixes comics with other stuff--be it sports memorabilia, card games, miniature games, whatever--tends to favor the other stuff and the service with their comics gets shafted. Not this place, though. The guy who minds the shop, Chet, is also the owner, so he'll order pretty much whatever you ask for, and he orders more indie stuff than MegaComics did in the first place; he's got a good subscription service with a discount, and he includes free bags and boards (MegaComics did not); plus he seems like a really nice guy. I think I may end up liking this shop even more than MegaComics.

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Originally Posted by TheCorpulent1

MegaComics, my comic shop for the last 5 or 6 years closes today. Apparently the owners were hit hard by the downturn in the economy and they had some kind of personal troubles, so they decided to close the shop. It wasn't a terribly wonderful shop, since it was apparently pretty tough to convince the owners to order much of anything beyond Marvel, DC, and Image unless it sold really well, but the guys at the counter were nice and they tried to help their fellow comic fans out with special orders where they could. I'll miss the place.

But there is a silver lining: The closing of MegaComics meant, of course, that I had to seek out a new shop. I knew of 3 in my city--one was a college textbook shop with a small comic section, so that was out, and another seems to be little more than a pet project for the owner, since he gets new issues very infrequently, doesn't offer subscriptions, and only opens the shop for a few hours each week. That left a comic/sports memorabilia shop about a mile or two away from MegaComics. After hearing the news that MegaComics was closing, I went over there a bit wary because I've found that any shop that mixes comics with other stuff--be it sports memorabilia, card games, miniature games, whatever--tends to favor the other stuff and the service with their comics gets shafted. Not this place, though. The guy who minds the shop, Chet, is also the owner, so he'll order pretty much whatever you ask for, and he orders more indie stuff than MegaComics did in the first place; he's got a good subscription service with a discount, and he includes free bags and boards (MegaComics did not); plus he seems like a really nice guy. I think I may end up liking this shop even more than MegaComics.

Yeah that's what I've seen around here too. Places that mix both heavily don't have much of a comic selection. Although the stores around here that are comic book based sell a good selection of other products, cards mostly and have at least one knowledgeable person.

I never understood that, sure it costs you a little money to give free bags and boards but giving at least one should be common. Plus if you give free bags it forces people to buy boards.

Nice that you found a new store that you like Corp

With the sad day that hit me with the discovery that my old favorite comic book store changed their layout and hired some kids that should be in junior high I took a chance and visited one of the older stores near me that I also grew up with but didn't like because the guys that owned it and worked there were condescending jerks. Except for one that was really cool and would talk to anyone, whether you were an expert or a kid that had no clue.

I knew it was under new ownership from my friend that goes there and it moved just two or three shop stores over and changed the name. I went in and ta da, there he was, the cool guy that has been there through three regimes as he put it. So I thought ok, plus so far.

The store is bigger now too, plus and it is now owned by a women. PLus? Anyway they are awesome now and I think I will make it my new comic shop.

[TheCorpulent1]

Cool. I heard something about MegaComics being bought by its previous owner and kept open, but I don't know if that's true. After I try out the subscription service and everything at Chet's shop this Wednesday, I may not even want to go back to MegaComics.

[DJ Kornphlake]

There are 3 in my area.

[Dark Victory]

Originally Posted by PyroChamber

Yeah, this is where I go for all my comic needs.

Downtown Chicago is lacking a lot of cool places since they closed the Virgin Megastore, there's not even a good place to buy video games except FYE.

You need to check out Brainstorm and Comix Revolution.

[[A]]

Originally Posted by terry78

Are there even any comic book stores near you anymore?

In my town -which is big - there are like 4 or 5 places I know of--and have seen. There are a few other, more dark and bleak (), in the underworld.. I mean, underground.. There is this really cool place called Camelot which has a showroom 10 times bigger than the actual shop--and this other place called El club del comic (The Comic Club, basically) with tons of mags and figures. There is also a big comic book shop with european editions, that go insanely crazy expensive.. but it's always nice to look at their catalogue

[Dread]

In my experience, since Corp and HUMBUG mentioned "mixed" shops, I have noticed that the really big comic book stores in Manhattan, like JIM HANLEY'S UNIVERSE, MIDTOWN COMICS, FORBIDDEN PLANET, and to a lessor degree COSMIC COMICS usually can focus mostly on comics and comic based merchandise and be alright. However, more local shops in my Brooklyn area almost always have historically "mixed in" other sorts of collectables, such as sports collectables, card games, and even coins. Even the store I go to 90% of the time in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn (Galaxy Comics), which is 96% comics & comic book merchandise, has some token baseball card stuff and some of those kiddie collectable cards (which, frankly, I always see kids buying). Of course, they are next to a movie theater, so they also sell candy.

Virtually every shop, even the big ones in Manhattan, has had to either create or expand some sort of manga section within the past 5-10 years, though. JIM HANLEY's went from a few manga books mixed in with their own comics to some 2-4 entire shelves full of manga, which is about the size of their X-MEN section. Even most of the smaller, local Brooklyn shops have to sell manga; the only one that doesn't is Pinocchio Discounts, which sells a bit of everything and is in such a poor location I simply presume they make up profits by selling on eBay or something. My local Galaxy Comics moved in from the prior owner, MUTANT MANIA III (who were there for almost a decade), and even the old owners had to install a manga shelf. That's what the folks under 18 are actually buying. I don't blame shops for wanting to make money, so long as the comics that I buy don't suffer. Galaxy Comics mostly sells Marvel, DC, and Image but they do give some Indie's and Dark Horse a shot. I mean, they order from Mirage (which is down to TALES OF TMNT and some random Turtle mini) every month and I can't imagine who buys those.

Basically, I usually don't mind shops that cater to other collectors because they usually do that to maintain a profit. If kids are willing to plunk down $4 a pop for cards, why not have a bunch of them? Comic people usually come in once a week, but kids, especially if you are near a school, will be in almost daily. Kids also read manga far more than they read comics, especially girls. And older men who may never read a comic may show up for sports cards now and again. That is a profitable market in itself. Sell a few decent baseball cards and that can make up for some comics losses.

I did know one Brooklyn shop that started out "mixed" called Collector's Fantasy, but had a very good comic section in the 90's, that completely abandoned comics entirely in favor of the sports and coin collectables in Brooklyn after 2000 or so, and it sucked. They still do order comics, but only huge issue cash in's, like CAPTAIN AMERICA #25 or CIVIL WAR #2 back when they were hot.

[BAH HUMBBUG!]

Originally Posted by Dread

In my experience, since Corp and HUMBUG mentioned "mixed" shops, I have noticed that the really big comic book stores in Manhattan, like JIM HANLEY'S UNIVERSE, MIDTOWN COMICS, FORBIDDEN PLANET, and to a lessor degree COSMIC COMICS usually can focus mostly on comics and comic based merchandise and be alright. However, more local shops in my Brooklyn area almost always have historically "mixed in" other sorts of collectables, such as sports collectables, card games, and even coins. Even the store I go to 90% of the time in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn (Galaxy Comics), which is 96% comics & comic book merchandise, has some token baseball card stuff and some of those kiddie collectable cards (which, frankly, I always see kids buying). Of course, they are next to a movie theater, so they also sell candy.

Virtually every shop, even the big ones in Manhattan, has had to either create or expand some sort of manga section within the past 5-10 years, though. JIM HANLEY's went from a few manga books mixed in with their own comics to some 2-4 entire shelves full of manga, which is about the size of their X-MEN section. Even most of the smaller, local Brooklyn shops have to sell manga; the only one that doesn't is Pinocchio Discounts, which sells a bit of everything and is in such a poor location I simply presume they make up profits by selling on eBay or something. My local Galaxy Comics moved in from the prior owner, MUTANT MANIA III (who were there for almost a decade), and even the old owners had to install a manga shelf. That's what the folks under 18 are actually buying. I don't blame shops for wanting to make money, so long as the comics that I buy don't suffer. Galaxy Comics mostly sells Marvel, DC, and Image but they do give some Indie's and Dark Horse a shot. I mean, they order from Mirage (which is down to TALES OF TMNT and some random Turtle mini) every month and I can't imagine who buys those.

Basically, I usually don't mind shops that cater to other collectors because they usually do that to maintain a profit. If kids are willing to plunk down $4 a pop for cards, why not have a bunch of them? Comic people usually come in once a week, but kids, especially if you are near a school, will be in almost daily. Kids also read manga far more than they read comics, especially girls. And older men who may never read a comic may show up for sports cards now and again. That is a profitable market in itself. Sell a few decent baseball cards and that can make up for some comics losses.

I did know one Brooklyn shop that started out "mixed" called Collector's Fantasy, but had a very good comic section in the 90's, that completely abandoned comics entirely in favor of the sports and coin collectables in Brooklyn after 2000 or so, and it sucked. They still do order comics, but only huge issue cash in's, like CAPTAIN AMERICA #25 or CIVIL WAR #2 back when they were hot.

Yeah, pretty much every store around me within a 5 mile radius or so mixes, even if the sports stuff (usually cards) only makes up 10% or so of their store as you mention Dread. But yeah, when I was in junior high I bought some comic cards and a few pogs some some sports cards here and there. But I was always more into comics by far.

But I would see tons of kids and adults buy cards, adults by the boxes or even a case here and there. The older I got the more I noticed the emergence of Mangas as you mention. And I totally agree, girls are a huge part of that demographic.

To me Manga's as the ugly step child to comic books, but to each their own.

I can only think of one comic book store near me that offers solely comic books and comic book related paraphernalia.

I also think what has really hurt the comic book industry and local shops (other than downloading) has been huge book stores like Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and Boarders.

If you order from them online you can get at least 15% off and as high as 30-50% off sometimes and pay no shipping. If you spend $200 a month on trades why wouldn't you order from online and save at least $20-$40?

I try to support my local comic shops as much as possible but it's hard when I can find a barely used tpb for $1.50 online.

[[A]]

I like the idea of posting pics.. let me see what I can get