Going into a comic book shop as a marginalized person isn’t always a fun experience. Often, we encounter the following problems:
- We are treated as though we have no knowledge of comic books or geek culture.
- Our attention is eagerly solicited in ways that make us feel uncomfortable.
- Our requests are ignored and we are not invited to participate.
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 shops owned by women. 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 women.
- Encourage everyone to read and create comic books, graphic novels, and more!
These stores have been recommended by friends and readers of The Geek Initiative. 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 and I will consider it. All submissions should include: Store name, store address, phone number, website(s), and e-mail address (optional).
You can view a Google Map of these stores here!
USA
CA (California)
Atlantis Fantasyworld
1020 Cedar Street
Santa Cruz, CA
(831) 426-0158
Website | Featured Interview
Avalon Comics & Games
10 W. Calle Laureles | Suite C
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 898-3790
Website | Facebook Page
[email protected]
Comics Tunes ‘N Toys
13542 Newport Ave.
Tustin, CA
(714) 730-2117
Facebook | Twitter
House of Secrets*
1930 West Olive Avenue
Burbank, CA
(818) 562-1900
Website | Facebook Page
Illusive Comics & Games
2725 El Camino Real | Ste. 105
Santa Clara, CA
(408) 985-7481
Website | Facebook Page
Metro Entertainment*
6 W. Anapamu St.
Santa Barbara, CA
(805) 963-2168
[email protected]
Website | Facebook Group | Facebook Page
Metropolis Comics
16509 Bellflower Blvd.
Bellflower, CA
(562) 263-277
[email protected]
Website
The Comic Bug
4267 Overland Ave
Culver City, CA
(310) 204-3240
DE (Delaware)
The Comic Book Shop!
1855 Marsh Road
Wilmington, DE
(302) 477-1119
Website
IN (Indiana)
Comic Book University
7623 Shelby Street
Indianapolis, IN 46227
(317) 885-6395
Website | Facebook Page | Twitter
FL (Florida)
Past Present Future*
1387 N. Military Trail
West Palm Beach, FL
(561) 697-2554
Website | Facebook Page
LA (Louisiana)
Paper Heroes
3941 Ryan St.
Ste. A
Lake Charles, LA
(866) 594-5125
Website
MI (Michigan)
Vault of Midnight – Grand Rapids
95A Monroe Center NW
Grand Rapids, MI
(616) 776-9013
Website | Facebook Page | Twitter
NC (North Carolina)
Acme Comics
2150 Lawndale Drive
Greensboro, NC
(336) 574-2263
Website
NE (Nebraska)
Dragon’s Lair Comics – Two Locations!
2227 North 91st Plaza
Omaha, NE
(402) 399-9141
Website
5022 South 153rd Street
Omaha, NE
(402) 895-6804
Website
Trade-A-Tape Comic Center
145 So. 9th St.
Lincoln, NE
(402) 435-6063
Website
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
Website
Showcase Comics and Games (Media)
Granite Run Mall
1067 W. Baltimore Pike
Media, PA
(610) 891-9229
[email protected]
Website
Uncanny!*
King of Prussia Mall
160 North Gulph Road
Suite 2022
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 337-1555
[email protected]
Website | Facebook Page
VA (Virginia)
Atlantis Games & Comics #1
2862 Airline Blvd.
Portsmouth, VA
(757) 465-1617
[email protected]
Atlantis Games & Comics #3
9649 1st View Street
Norfolk, VA
(757) 502-8954
[email protected]
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.
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