[Photo by Steven]
As first noted on Tuesday, St. Mark's Comics announced that it will close at the end of February after 36 years on St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue.
"I have been working 90 hours a week for 36 years, and I no longer have the wherewithal to fight them — all of these various reasons," owner Mitch Cutler told me about all the different factors that led to his decision to close up shop. "It is challenging to have a storefront business in New York City for a number of reasons...it is challenging to keep and maintain a retail storefront and there are enough impediments now that—like I said, I'm exhausted and can't fight them anymore."
News of the closing was picked up by a variety of news sources (and thanks to Curbed and Gothamist for linking to my post!) ... there was a lot of reaction via Twitter. Here's a sampling...
gutted! I salute you @StMarksComicsNY you've been amazing to my pals and i for our entire careers and always a delight when we stopped by. go there and enjoy them while you can. https://t.co/LUnFcoOhl2
— BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (@BRIANMBENDIS) January 30, 2019
This is terrible, soul-crushing news. https://t.co/zUlipwiGhc
— Simon Drax (@SimonDrax) January 29, 2019
Another cool spot going bye bye. Jeesh https://t.co/kSiRcgK7Fq
— francesco marano (@italianmojo887) January 30, 2019
So sad about this. How can there not be a St. Marks Comics in NYC? I was there over the weekend, but I will be again when I am in the city this week to buy some souvenirs of the best comics shop that ever was. @StMarksComicsNY you will always be loved and missed by many! https://t.co/x0fLXvaEYJ
— Sue Bachner (@SueBachnerShow) January 30, 2019
Probably the biggest, fluffiest fantasy in that new Spider Man art experiment that's entrancing the kids now is that that seamless mix of old New York culture and New York tech that it does its damnedest to sell you on. You laugh at first... https://t.co/mmMkoKGpbG
— Bartleby and Jaymes (@nilesformayor) January 30, 2019
Jeez Manhattan, I give up on you https://t.co/c5TowCTS8E
— stepped up (@annkpowers) January 30, 2019
RIP @StMarksComicsNY I worked there age 14, summer 1991. X-Force was huge, the murder rate hit a record high, and I was dating a rollerblader. #stmarksisdead https://t.co/DTKBtMGPO7
— Ada Calhoun (@adacalhoun) January 29, 2019
— fake nick ramsey (@nick_ramsey) January 29, 2019
And there was this from storyboard artist Sean Chen...
Meanwhile, the store is having a clearance sale, as you can see on the sign outside...
[Photo by Steven]