I thought the 'comic shop closing' rumors were just drama, but my local one is actually shutting down next month

For the last year, I kept hearing people at my shop in Cedar Rapids say the owner was struggling, but I figured it was just the usual fan gossip. I mean, the place always seemed busy on Wednesdays. Then last week, he posted the official notice on the door. He said after 15 years, rent went up 40% and new book sales dropped by half since 2020. I'm honestly shocked it happened so fast. What are you guys doing to support your local shops before it's too late?

3 comments

3 Comments

iris_mason882mo ago

It's the same story everywhere now. My old record store and a used bookstore closed for the same reasons, rent hikes and less foot traffic. We keep saying we value these places but buy everything online for convenience. Supporting a local shop means choosing to spend the extra few bucks there instead of with a big website. It has to be a regular habit, not just when the closing sign goes up. Once they're gone, you realize they were the heart of the neighborhood.

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oliver_ward146d ago

I set a reminder on my phone for every other Saturday to hit the local shops.

jade32mo ago

Honestly @iris_mason88, I used to hunt for deals online until reading this changed my mind.