Comic Shop Loyalty

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 3:15 pm

I buy my comics from Manhattan Comics which I think all of you guys have been to at one time or another. I started shopping there in 2009 after my local comics shop in Brooklyn shut down. Back then it was called Cosmic Comics. It underwent a management change in late 2010 after it was brought out by the current owner and had its name changed to Cosmic Comics.
Iâ€™ve had an almost entirely positive experience shopping there. The owner and guys who there all know me by name. Theyâ€™re very friendly and knowledgeable and always engage in a bit of banter with me when I come by. Except for a small stint in late 2011 when I began shopping at Midtown because they kept running out of my books, I havenâ€™t had any problems there.

I just learned 2 of the employees who work at Manhattan Comics, who I am friends with, are striking out on their own and are opening their own comic shop in the West Village in Manhattan called Carmine Street Comics. The owner of Manhattan Comics is very supportive of their new endeavor (it also helps that the guys are opening their shop all the way downtown). Iâ€™ll definitely check them out. Theyâ€™ve got a grand opening set for next week and have scored Brian Wood and his creative team on The Massive to do a signing when they open. Iâ€™m thinking of buying at least part of my comics from their shop because Iâ€™m friends with them and I want to support their new business. However, I do feel bad about taking business away from my current LCS. Also, itâ€™ll be annoying to do 2 comic shop runs during the week.

What are your thoughts on this fellers? Ever have problems with sticking with an LCS or guilt for leaving? Or does it not really matter?

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 3:44 pm

And I just learned Jim Hanley's Comic shop has been brought my new owners. On April 30, 2013 Jim Hanley's is closing and on May 1, 2013 JHU Comics opens (same location)

Stocky Boy · Post by **Stocky Boy** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 1:46 pm

Which one was Manhattan again? I remember both of the Midtowns and Jim Henleys.

I've never changed shops before, so I don't know what it's like to be traitor scum. Lol!

I think eventually, you will get all your books from one place and only visit the other one when you can't find what you want at the one which will become your regular one.

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 8:34 pm

Cosmic/Manhattan Comics is located across from Madison Square park. Is about 8 ten blocks down from Jim Hanley's.

Correction: Jim Hanley's will be changing locations. I think it's one block over.

I think I've decided that ill get all my mainstream books from my regular LCS at Manhattan comics and all my Indy/alternative stuff ill get from Carmine Street Comics.

jedispyder · Post by **jedispyder** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 10:12 am

I've really only been loyal to 2 comic shops. I've mainly gone to my current shop but my first file was at a friend's dad's store (and that lasted for just a few years before his dad closed the store and they eventually moved away). I've been at my current shop with a file for a good 15 years or so.

Tragic Angelus · Post by **Tragic Angelus** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 2:18 pm

The only problem with multiple shops is as you said the pain of trying to get to two. I like the idea of Big 2 at one and Indy at another. But what about Singles vs TPBs? Such as using the new one for TPBs if they carry a few to help them in a small way and not entirely splitting your pull list between more than one store. Those sales add up and, in the danger the store doesn't do so well, you don't end up missing comics in the early stages of working out the kinks or missing entire orders if the store goes under unexpectedly. That's just me.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 11:40 pm

I moved to Calgary and still use my comic store in Montreal... so I'm pretty loyal.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Tue Apr 30, 2013 12:06 am

Been loyal to my comics shop for 12 years until situation started to get real shitty due to one of the owners trying to kill the business. He stopped paying Diamond, stopped paying the taxes. It resulted in the shop not receiving weekly shipment (it once went 6 weeks in a row without receiving new comics) and the second owner fearing he might have to close up shop because he had the tax administration on his ass to get the money back.
So I started shopping at another shop in Lyon.
Now, I have 2 comics shop. The old one is getting a bit better since the owner settled things with Diamonds and the tax office but the shipment still aren't coming in weekly.
I think in the end, I'll ditch the old one completely or maybe it will even close down.

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Thu May 09, 2013 8:36 pm

THe decision of which comic shop to patronize has been taken out of my hands. Manhattan Comics, formerly Cosmic Comics, has unfortunately gone out of business this past Monday May 5th 2013. There was no going out of business sign, no clearence sale; it just shut its doors this past monday. I was very sudden and very unexpected expect for those who knew on the inside.

It's very sad obviously, the new owner had taken over in January of 2011. It didn't last ver long.

Rather than take my business to Midtown Comics or Forbidden Planet, I'm going support the former employees of Manhattan Comics who opened up Carmine Street Comics. Hopefully things will go well for them and me.

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Sat May 11, 2013 1:16 pm

Did you go to the opening night there? They had Brian Wood signing.

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Sat May 11, 2013 2:04 pm

I really *really* wanted to go but I couldn't. I was in jury duty

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Sat May 11, 2013 2:43 pm

I hope you sent someone to the chair to make up for it.

Mr Wallstreet · Post by **Mr Wallstreet** » Sat May 11, 2013 7:20 pm

I voted guilty on every single case that day out of pure spite and anger

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Sun May 12, 2013 5:07 am

I love you!

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Fri May 24, 2013 1:36 pm

Jesus fuck, no matter what shop I go to, there is always comics missing.
I just realized I never got The Massive 11 from the old shop and East of West 2 from the new one.
Really annoying.

wolf_2099 · Post by **wolf_2099** » Sat May 25, 2013 1:12 am

Do you need me to hunt any of these down for you?

XIII · Post by **XIII** » Sat May 25, 2013 5:39 am

Not at the moment. The Massive has been re-ordered.
As for East of West, I think my comics shop didn't realize he never got it so I'll see with him next time I go there.
Thanks for the offer!