The week the comic shop in my town closed for good back in 2008

It was more than just a store closing. That place on Maple Street was where I met my best friends. We'd hang out there every Wednesday after school, grabbing our pulls and just talking for hours. The owner, Frank, knew everyone's names and would hold books for you if you were short. The week they put the 'Going Out of Business' sign in the window, it felt like the end of an era. We all pitched in to help pack up the back issues, and Frank gave each of us a book from our first pull list as a keepsake. I got a beat-up copy of Amazing Spider-Man #300. It's not worth much, but it means everything. Do you have a memory of a local shop that shaped how you got into comics?

2 comments

2 Comments

felix981d ago

I used to think those shops were just retail spots. But my local place, The Dragon's Hoard, had this old couch in the back and the owner, Linda, would let me read books for free as long as I put them back neat. That's where I really fell for Hellboy. It changed my whole view on what a store could be.

mila3951d ago

Totally get what you mean about shops being more than retail. I used to just see them as places to buy stuff too, but my local spot, Cosmic Comics, was like a clubhouse (they even had a free bowl of pretzels). Reading @felix98's thing about Linda and the couch really hits home, it's that kind of vibe that makes you a fan for life.