We are Closing our Shop

[toranoshi]

Hey all,
With more and more of our customers moving to online services that can offer better discounts since they do not have overhead. As well as Diamond changing their discount structure to penalize smaller shops, we have made the decision to close effective June 30th. I may still deal in back issues which have a much higher margin than recent books, but when out of 30 press releases for Free Comic Book Day that I sent out, we get zero response from all of the media outlets, the writing is definitely on the wall. If anyone is looking for specific issues, I am going to be liquidating the entire store, so I would rather sell to fellow Crusaders at a discount first. Thanks to everyone that used us as a shop.

[angeldoggie]

I am sorry to hear this. I hope for all the best for you, and hope your selling of back issues goes extremely well. I will get a new list together and get all the vol.1 Cap's that I can thru you. Again, I am so sorry that you are closing your shop.

[dawnsawaking]

Sorry to hear that Tora, I know our dealer is in a panic because he is trying to sell his store, we were looking at buying it but what he was asking for, I just don't think we can find the way to buy it for 600,000.  I will have to sit down with Cali and see if we are missing anything and we will let ya know!

[toranoshi]

Sorry to hear that Tora, I know our dealer is in a panic because he is trying to sell his store, we were looking at buying it but what he was asking for, I just don't think we can find the way to buy it for 600,000.  I will have to sit down with Cali and see if we are missing anything and we will let ya know!

Hey Dawn,
For that amount you guys could own an entire chain of stores. I started this shop with only about 3000 back issues and a couple dozen new books a week. Within a year we had bough nearly 100,000 books for around 5 cents a book.If he is going to close anyway, you might be better off just opening a new shop in the same general area. You could do it for probably around $25,000.That number includes carrying the top 100 trades and recent books at about 4 deep as well as supplies, gaming, deposit and 1st months rent and utilities and store fixtures. Back issues are a market where the right buy can get you set for a few years. Right now I am looking to buy an entire run of 60's-80's Marvel with all of the keys and a bunch Golden Age Batman and Superman. If that comes my way I will be setting up at Wizard World Chicago in June. I also had a guy come in today that found a bunch of Silver Age Spider-Man books. So my wife has asked if I just want to move the shop to the shopping center near us. Rent would be half as much as downtown and we have an enourmous amount of kids in the area there. So we may not be closing after all. We are going to have a long talk tonight and run a few business plans by our business partner and see what is worthwhile. I definitely still would love to be in the business, but Diamond is killing me with the new discount structure. Which is why being a back issue only dealer may be the way to go.

[Darkwinter]

Will there be a listing on what is to be sold. Since i rather just cruise a listing just in case i miss an idea i want.

[dawnsawaking]

Sorry to hear that Tora, I know our dealer is in a panic because he is trying to sell his store, we were looking at buying it but what he was asking for, I just don't think we can find the way to buy it for 600,000.  I will have to sit down with Cali and see if we are missing anything and we will let ya know!

Hey Dawn,
For that amount you guys could own an entire chain of stores. I started this shop with only about 3000 back issues and a couple dozen new books a week. Within a year we had bough nearly 100,000 books for around 5 cents a book.If he is going to close anyway, you might be better off just opening a new shop in the same general area. You could do it for probably around $25,000.That number includes carrying the top 100 trades and recent books at about 4 deep as well as supplies, gaming, deposit and 1st months rent and utilities and store fixtures. Back issues are a market where the right buy can get you set for a few years. Right now I am looking to buy an entire run of 60's-80's Marvel with all of the keys and a bunch Golden Age Batman and Superman. If that comes my way I will be setting up at Wizard World Chicago in June. I also had a guy come in today that found a bunch of Silver Age Spider-Man books. So my wife has asked if I just want to move the shop to the shopping center near us. Rent would be half as much as downtown and we have an enourmous amount of kids in the area there. So we may not be closing after all. We are going to have a long talk tonight and run a few business plans by our business partner and see what is worthwhile. I definitely still would love to be in the business, but Diamond is killing me with the new discount structure. Which is why being a back issue only dealer may be the way to go.

Tj and I are still floating that around yet, but it wouldnt be your normal comic store.  He started his store 10 yrs ago on 50k and now he is selling everything in the store and the name, his store is huge!

[pctchuck]

I hope that you can keep things going someway.  I've really enjoyed doing business with you, as well as keeping up communications on this board and your's. 
Since I've changed jobs, it is difficult to get to the place I shop on a regular basis, showing my face there once a month rather than the once a week I use to go.  I've thought about changing stores to something closer, but I've a 15+ years of loyalty to this shop.  The one store closer to work/home here doesn't carry many indies, and that is about all I read anymore.  You've been able to fill a void for me, especially keeping me up with the various Shi appearances.

[jsniderfamily]

A dark day...I wish you all the best.

[BillyTucci]

Hey all,
With more and more of our customers moving to online services that can offer better discounts since they do not have overhead. As well as Diamond changing their discount structure to penalize smaller shops, we have made the decision to close effective June 30th. I may still deal in back issues which have a much higher margin than recent books, but when out of 30 press releases for Free Comic Book Day that I sent out, we get zero response from all of the media outlets, the writing is definitely on the wall. If anyone is looking for specific issues, I am going to be liquidating the entire store, so I would rather sell to fellow Crusaders at a discount first. Thanks to everyone that used us as a shop.

Sorry to hear that Chris.

[angeldoggie]

I am hoping that this will all work out to your advantage, and I know if there is a way, you will find it !!! I am still praying EXTRA hard for you as you really do deserve all the best !!!

[toranoshi]

Thanks everyone,
We are now officially closed for new comics as of July 2nd. I confirmed that with Diamond yesterday. I am still selling all current comics we have on hand (around 50-60 thousand). After that point, I will probably only deal in back issues sparingly. I am on an eligibility list since December for a police department a few towns over and now our town is hiring, so I will be applying for that as well. The starting salary is 60k a year, and we have the lowest crime rate in the state, and probably are in the top 50 for the US.

[Skwerly]

Sorry to hear about the closing of your shop.  It's sad to hear about what Diamond's doing to the smaller shops.
Here's hoping that the job with the police works out for you!
To new beginnings!

[toranoshi]

We officially closed the shop over Memorial Day weekend. I am still going through all of the stock that is now taking up most of the garage. I hope to have all of that sorted and sold by August. Thanks again to everyone that was a customer of ours.

[BillyTucci]

I'm so sorry to hear that Chris.

[dawnsawaking]

sorry Tora, but I wish you the best of luck on your future ventures in life!!

[toranoshi]

Thanks Billy and Dawn. I have a new job that I start right after WW Chi, so I will still be able to see you guys there.

[dawnsawaking]

Thanks Billy and Dawn. I have a new job that I start right after WW Chi, so I will still be able to see you guys there.

cool then we have a great reason for drinks to celebrate the new job