Going into a comic book shop as a marginalized person isn’t always a fun experience. Often, we encounter the following problems:
- Managers and staff treat us as if we have no knowledge of comic books or geek culture.
- People with privilege eagerly solicit our attention in ways that make us feel uncomfortable.
- Managers, staff, and community ignore our requests and do not invite us to participate.
- We do not see overtly displayed images of comic books or games that feature people like us, even though those prominently exist, making us feel less welcome.
- Electronic communications from the store are not inclusive or feature gaming areas that are not accessible to disabled participants.
If you’re tired of encountering these problems, check out one of these inclusive comic book shops listed below. Included on this list are stores in which shoppers have observed positive experiences as well as comic book and gaming shops owned by BIPOC, women, and queer industry professionals. These stores reportedly:
- Treat everyone with respect and equality.
- Help everyone find and order merchandise.
- Do not make assumptions about the level of knowledge of a customer.
- Provide a safe and friendly environment for marginalized shoppers.
- Encourage everyone to read, game, and create comic books, graphic novels, and more!
These stores have been recommended by friends and readers of The Geek Initiative. To qualify, they must be comic book and/or gaming stores in the United States. If you have another store that is appropriate to add to this list, please let me know and I will add it! If you are a store owner and would like to be included on this list, please contact me and tell me a bit about your store and your experiences. Should you wish to have an item removed from the list, please provide a detailed explanation regarding it and I will consider it. All submissions should include: Store name, store address, phone number, website(s), and e-mail address (optional). as well as information about whether they are a comic book store, gaming store, or both. We are excited to present and maintain this list of inclusive comic book and gaming stores in the United States.
You can view a Google Map of these stores here!
USA
CA (California)
Atlantis Fantasyworld Comic Books 1020 Cedar Street Santa Cruz, CA (831) 426-0158 Website | Featured Interview Comics Tunes ‘N Toys Comic Books and Toys 13542 Newport Ave. Tustin, CA (714) 730-2117 Facebook | Twitter House of Secrets* Comic Books 1930 West Olive Avenue Burbank, CA (818) 562-1900 Website | Facebook Page Illusive Comics & Games Comic Books & Games 2725 El Camino Real | Ste. 105 Santa Clara, CA (408) 985-7481 Website | Facebook Page Metro Entertainment* Comic Books & Games 6 W. Anapamu St. Santa Barbara, CA (805) 963-2168 metrocomix@aol.com Website | Facebook Group | Facebook Page Metropolis Comics Comic Books, Toys, and Games 16509 Bellflower Blvd. Bellflower, CA (562) 263-0277 metrohero@gmail.com Website The Comic Bug Comic Books 4267 Overland Ave Culver City, CA (310) 372-6704 Website
DE (Delaware)
The Comic Book Shop! Comic Books 1855 Marsh Road Wilmington, DE (302) 477-1119 Website | Facebook Page
IN (Indiana)
Comic Book University Comic Books 7623 Shelby Street Indianapolis, IN 46227 (317) 885-6395 Website | Facebook Page | Twitter
FL (Florida)
Past Present Future* Comic & Gaming Chain 1387 N. Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL (561) 697-2554 Website | Facebook Page
LA (Louisiana)
Paper Heroes Comic Books 3941 Ryan St. Ste. A Lake Charles, LA (866) 594-5125 Website | Facebook
MI (Michigan)
Vault of Midnight – Grand Rapids Comic Books and Stuff 95A Monroe Center NW Grand Rapids, MI (616) 776-9013 Website | Facebook Page | Twitter
NC (North Carolina)
Acme Comics Comic Books 2150 Lawndale Drive Greensboro, NC (336) 574-2263 Website | Facebook
NE (Nebraska)
Dragon’s Lair Comics – Two Locations! Comics and Games 2227 North 91st Plaza Omaha, NE (402) 399-9141 Website | Facebook 5022 South 153rd Street Omaha, NE (402) 895-6804 Website | Facebook Trade-A-Tape Comic Center Comic Books 145 So. 9th St. Lincoln, NE (402) 435-6063 Website | Facebook
NJ (New Jersey)
Farpoint Toys & Collectibles Located inside Level Up Entertainment 4403 Black Horse Pike Mays Landing, NJ (313) 438-8697 Facebook Page The Comic Station 615 Station Ave. Haddon Heights, NJ Website | Facebook Page | Twitter Little Shop of Comics 393 Park Ave. Scotch Plains, NJ (908) 322-9402 Website New World Manga 93 East Mount Pleasant Avenue Livingston, NJ (973) 597-0625 Website | Facebook Page River City Comics 95 South White Horse Pike Berlin, NJ (856) 809-1963 Facebook
OH (Ohio)
North Coast Nostalgia 5853 Ridge Rd. Cleveland, OH (440)845-7040 Facebook
OK (Oklahoma)
Impulse Creations 8228 E 61 St, Ste 121 Tulsa, OK (440)845-7040 Website | Facebook | Twitter
PA (Pennsylvania)
Books Galore* 5546 Peach St. Erie, PA (814) 864-1853 eriebooksgalore@yahoo.com Website | Blog (Current Shipments) | Facebook Page Brave New Worlds (Philly)* 55 North Second St. Philadelphia, PA (215) 925-6525 Facebook Page Brave New Worlds (Willow Grove) 433 West Moreland Rd. Willow Grove, PA (215) 657-8838 Facebook Page Cyborg One 44 East State St. Doylestown, PA (215) 348-1451 Facebook Page Showcase Comics and Games (Bryn Mawr)* 874 West Lancaster Bryn Mawr, PA (610) 527-6236 BrynMawrComics@hotmail.com Website Showcase Comics and Games (Media) Granite Run Mall 1067 W. Baltimore Pike Media, PA (610) 891-9229 ShowcasePA@aol.com Website Uncanny!* King of Prussia Mall 160 North Gulph Road Suite 2022 King of Prussia, PA 19406 (610) 337-1555 comicsandmore@gmail.com Website | Facebook Page
VA (Virginia)
Atlantis Games & Comics #1 2862 Airline Blvd. Portsmouth, VA (757) 465-1617 ac1@atlantis-comics.com Atlantis Games & Comics #3 9649 1st View Street Norfolk, VA (757) 502-8954 ac3@atlantis-comics.com Website Untamed Worlds 20722 Timberlake Rd. | Ste. K Lynchburg, VA (434) 237-7115 Facebook Page
WA (Washington)
Adventures Underground 1391 George Washington Way Richland, WA (509) 946-9893 Website Destiny City Comics 218 St. Helens Ave Tacoma, WA (253) 234-7112 Website | Facebook | Twitter * Personally recommended by an editor of this site.