Take a trip with EP to some "local" Brick and Mortar Stores 2 2

[electricprune]

57 minutes ago, Wolverinex said:

Wow, that is a beautiful shop.  Recalled Action comics?

No, just the soda pop version.  Only one I saw.

[electricprune]

Secret Crisis Comics- Chelsea, MI. Home of the Bulldogs.

I had never been to this store before. It’s not far off I-94 for people heading to or from Detroit. It’s in a nice strip mall. Quite a few people were in and out while I was there, so that’s a good sign. Store was neat and presented very well.
 

The store has may different items in stock, new comics, some older comics, TPBs, toys, etc. It has nice selection of newer collectibles. They have several short boxes of back issues, and I believe I looked through all of them. Mostly modern books with a splash of Silver, Bronze, and Cooper. A small splash really.

Owner was nice and let me go through the boxes without asking if he could help me find anything. I’m looking for impulse buys, so not much help to be had.

I picked up two books. He does have a wall with some decent issue and slabs, but Silver, Bronze, and Copper were sparse.

I would suggest checking this store out for modern stuff or pull lists if you happen to be in the area. I may check it out once a year myself.

Asides: Although Chelsea is a bit far out from Detroit, it has two very well known restaurants just down the street from the shop. The Common Grille and Smokehouse 52. Common Grille would be steaks and American fare. Smokehouse 52 is obviously BBQ. I did it eat at 52 with a native Texan and her husband who grew up there. They both liked it. Check one of these out if you go to the shop.

 

Edited August 29, 2020 by electricprune

[electricprune]

Nostalgia Ink- Jackson, MI. Home of the Titans and Jackson State Prison.

I have been to this store once before. It’s nice. The owners usually set up at Motor City Comic Con and usually have great stuff to look through.

i picked up some decent books here, including the book of the trip so far. It wasn’t priced, so I was worried he might come back with $50. He checked out something online and said, “$10.” Nice!

Nice selection of Silver through Modern and even had some Gold. They do have some slabs as well. They have a ton of Modern and Independent boxes to look through, but I stuck to the Silver, Bronze, and Copper area. 
 

Definitely visit this store if you’re in the area. Do not pick up hitch hikers.

Aside: when I walked in, the two guys were JAMMING metal! I guess that probably pumps you up to buy more books. Some of it was Neu-Metal, but that’s ok. I was happy with what I found.

[WolverineX]

Fancy place.  Loving this thread

[Robot Man]

1 hour ago, electricprune said:

Nostalgia Ink- Jackson, MI. Home of the Titans and Jackson State Prison.

I have been to this store once before. It’s nice. The owners usually set up at Motor City Comic Con and usually have great stuff to look through.

i picked up some decent books here, including the book of the trip so far. It wasn’t priced, so I was worried he might come back with $50. He checked out something online and said, “$10.” Nice!

Nice selection of Silver through Modern and even had some Gold. They do have some slabs as well. They have a ton of Modern and Independent boxes to look through, but I stuck to the Silver, Bronze, and Copper area. 
 

Definitely visit this store if you’re in the area. Do not pick up hitch hikers.

Aside: when I walked in, the two guys were JAMMING metal! I guess that probably pumps you up to buy more books. Some of it was Neu-Metal, but that’s ok. I was happy with what I found.

Might be the Boards own Catrick’s local store?

This is a fun thread, thanks!

[flashlites]

This is so cool! I think its great to showcase our brick and mortar stores! I could do one too about the Texas stores I go to. We gotta support these places they are the life blood of our hobby!

[electricprune]

5 hours ago, Robot Man said:

Might be the Boards own Catrick’s local store?

This is a fun thread, thanks!

That is possible. I believe he lives in Jackson.

I have heard of another store/dealer that used to be in Jackson. People would travel great distances to deal with him because he would get incredible books in quantity. Not sure what his name was or what happened to him.

Edited August 29, 2020 by electricprune

[electricprune]

Fanfare- Kalamazoo, MI Home of the Loy Norrix Knights

This is a very nice store. Large, open, and they carry just about everything a geek might want. I mean it. Check out the pictures. They have books back to Silver, with some Gold even. Keys and wall type books behind the counter for most shoppers. Toys, games, cards, pictures, autographs, 50 cent books, they have just about anything you might want. I forgot to take a picture of the outside, so I had to steal one from the web. I hope this is the updated sign, as I believe it has changed in the past couple of years.

Most of the back issues are actually in "bins" that look to likely have been made by them for comics. This are all uniform and made from wood or a composite. They are sturdy and easy to look through. They are filled with books ranging from a little Silver to modern. (I forgot to take a picture of them, so I had to steal one. It might not really show them well enough.) They have a decent amount of Bronze and quite a bit of copper and modern books to look through. Prices are reasonable.

This store is located just about a mile north of I-94, so it is simple to get to. If you happen to be in the area, or even driving through, it's worth a stop in.

Aside: Yes, Kalamazoo is also a real name. I have had more that one non-Michigander ask me if it was a real name when it happened to come up in conversation with them.

[ADAMANTIUM]

@electricprune fanfare looks perfect for social distancing, good on the owners

Glad to see people shopping at all these places!

[electricprune]

Amazing Fantasy Books and Comics- Frankfort, IL Home of the Griffons.

So, this is the first out of state visit I've posted. Comic fatigue has started to set in by the time I reach this store about 6:00 PM. When I walk in, I am asked to sanitize my hands, which I gladly do. The store is large, but I really only notice the books, They have some nice books on the wall. I check them out and make my way back to the short/long boxes near the other end of the store. I start to look through them, and most of them are newer books, They're are certainly some Bronze and even a few Silver mixed in, but most are newer than I would usually look at. About half way through the books, it hits me:

I have to check out my one book and get to the nearest gas station.

I didn't really get a chance to fully look at this store. It was very nice, the had many other things besides books, but I didn't get a chance to look much over. I'll need to go back eventually. The store is in a strip mall, but I did not get an exterior picture evidentally. I thought I did.

[HouseofComics.Com]

On 8/23/2020 at 7:25 AM, electricprune said:

Stadium Cards and Comics- Ypsilanti, MI (Yes, that's a real city name) Home of Eastern Michigan University.

They had a great convention in Ypsilanti (on campus, I assume) back in the mid-80s. King Kon, I believe. Maybe only 2-3 years. Somehow it seemed like it was replaced on the "schedule" by Mid-Ohio Con, but I could be mistaken.

[HouseofComics.Com]

Looking forward to your review of the Grand Rapids shops at some point.

Fanfare was the first pure comics store in Kalamazoo. Tiny place originally, in a former house, split with a radio station. Basically a living room with one impressive rack of new comics and the rest crammed with back issues, on tables and under the tables. Just a gem. I remember they financed opening the store by speculating in 1,000 copies of New Teen Titans 1. That book hit it big and voila, enough capital to shoestring a store back in the day.

[electricprune]

Not a brick and mortar, but here are some pics from Terry O'Neill's Mini-Con in Rosemont today. Well worth the trip. I purchased something from each of the 7 dealers, except Harley. I had met up with Harley Thursday and picked up a bunch of books from him so they wouldn't have to make the trip there and back.

[electricprune]

I drove to Chicagoland and got there late Friday. I got to hang out with Brad (sharpcomics) that night and a good part of the next day. I got a room in Joliet. Joliet, like Jackson, MI is well known for having a prison there., The Old Joliet Prison. It is now closed. Since it was built before the US Civil War, I guess it had seen its best days.

If you haven't been there before, it's a beautiful part of the country. I checked in the hotel very late Friday night, so no scenery for me. However, when I got up Saturday morning, I raised the blinds to this glorious picture of nature.

Aside: Joliet once had a professional baseball team named the Joliet Convicts. I'm not making that up.

[HouseofComics.Com]

Very interesting. What was the limit on attendance at any one time?

[electricprune]

1 minute ago, HouseofComics.Com said:

Very interesting. What was the limit on attendance at any one time?

I believe, per the state, Terry said it was 50. I was there from about 10:30 until 1:30 or so. They probably had 20 or so come through by then.

[electricprune]

Graham Crackers Comics- Plainfield, IL. Home of the Tigers.

Brad sent me to this one solo. It opened at 10 AM, and I was there shortly after. This store has alot to offer. There are many long boxes to look through. When you first walk in, you'll see the Marvel section, and to your left will be many more boxes of DCs to look through. I spent quite a while here. Found several books. They also have some nicer key type books behind the counter.

I even spent a while sitting on the floor looking through long boxes. They had quite a few on their own that were meant for books that are a little higher in price. Silver- Modern books to be had here! Maybe some Gold, but I don't remember them. Some of the walls are also lined with nicer books and keys.

The had non-sports cards and may other items here as well. The store looks to have taken up three smaller units of this strip mall that also has a tattoo parlor and a sports card shop right next door.

If you're looking for Silver-Modern books, I would definitely check this location out!

[Robot Man]

Looks like a lot of bored dealers. I guess "social distancing" wasn't a problem...

And then you got "Mr. Polyester". Anybody tell him that there is a pandamic going on?...

Still, good to have a nice small show with some quality dealers to go to.

[Robot Man]

5 hours ago, electricprune said:

Graham Crackers Comics- Plainfield, IL. Home of the Tigers.

Brad sent me to this one solo. It opened at 10 AM, and I was there shortly after. This store has alot to offer. There are many long boxes to look through. When you first walk in, you'll see the Marvel section, and to your left will be many more boxes of DCs to look through. I spent quite a while here. Found several books. They also have some nicer key type books behind the counter.

I even spent a while sitting on the floor looking through long boxes. They had quite a few on their own that were meant for books that are a little higher in price. Silver- Modern books to be had here! Maybe some Gold, but I don't remember them. Some of the walls are also lined with nicer books and keys.

The had non-sports cards and may other items here as well. The store looks to have taken up three smaller units of this strip mall that also has a tattoo parlor and a sports card shop right next door.

If you're looking for Silver-Modern books, I would definitely check this location out!

The Graham Crackers stores are great. I mostly hunt for GA stuff and anytime I'm in Chicago, I make it a point to hit Jamie's stores. They always, have at least something interesting.

[flashlites]

7 hours ago, electricprune said:

Graham Crackers Comics- Plainfield, IL. Home of the Tigers.

Brad sent me to this one solo. It opened at 10 AM, and I was there shortly after. This store has alot to offer. There are many long boxes to look through. When you first walk in, you'll see the Marvel section, and to your left will be many more boxes of DCs to look through. I spent quite a while here. Found several books. They also have some nicer key type books behind the counter.

I even spent a while sitting on the floor looking through long boxes. They had quite a few on their own that were meant for books that are a little higher in price. Silver- Modern books to be had here! Maybe some Gold, but I don't remember them. Some of the walls are also lined with nicer books and keys.

The had non-sports cards and may other items here as well. The store looks to have taken up three smaller units of this strip mall that also has a tattoo parlor and a sports card shop right next door.

If you're looking for Silver-Modern books, I would definitely check this location out!

I've bought from them before online so I can confirm they do deliver even to Texas! (and that they have Flash LoL!)  loving these photos and getting to see what you are able to pick up!