Comments on: Shutter report: Rocketship is closed

By: Hipolito M. Wiseman

Hipolito M. Wiseman — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:20:35 +0000

Now, regarding Vitale.ugh. Sometimes he makes me embarrassed to be Italian.

By: Will

Will — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:26:39 +0000

They were open for business this evening! Here’s hoping they stay that way. This shop is a treasure. Come on out and show your support!

By: Jef UK

Jef UK — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:28:01 +0000

Well that stinks. I hope they are able to reopen.

By: Patrick Brower

Patrick Brower — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 04:39:47 +0000

While I’ve never been to Rocketship, I always heard nothing but the best things from people who had (especially Dave & Raina). Here’s hoping they either come back or find something else rewarding to do.

I must admit to a little trepidation in reading this because I also own a comic shop that has been awarded equal “Best Of” and Eisner honors here in Chicago and we also have a 5 year lease…

By: michael

michael — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:15:35 +0000

“People do things all the time that they don’t intend to do forever.”
-@Joe, well, I mean the examples you gave are of you working for someone else.

Opening your own place is a very personal thing, and requires a certain amount of passion, I would think. I, too have had a couple of careers, but if I ever opened my own restaurant, I am sure that I would want it to last for my whole life, if not longer.

That is why I felt what he said was so odd. And especially considering how many people liked and supported their trek into opening the place in the first place, it sounds like the support they are getting, was not from people who expected the place to fold anytime soon, barring economic hardships, like perhaps the reason for this decision in the first place.

By: dan shahin

dan shahin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:09:24 +0000

Sad news. Hopefully things will work out for the best. Retail is a tough racket in this (or any) economy, and comic book retail can be even tougher.

By: pacolli

pacolli — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:11:58 +0000

such a great comics store! damnnnn

By: Emily Millay Haddad

Emily Millay Haddad — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:55:26 +0000

I wish the folks at Rocketship all the best, whether they stay in the comic book/graphic novel business or move on to other ventures. Your shop was always a pleasure to visit, and I made a habit of buying at least one thing every time I was in there (my sweetie at the time could hardly restrain herself and generally bought 3-5 things). You guys were our go-to shop for the widest range of work, with a no-attitude customer service policy.

I know there’s a lot of speculation on the profitability of your business, the cost of the lease renewal, etc. etc. but I’m wondering if you’d consider opening up your business to other investors/managers/collective structure possibilities? Or relocating to another neighborhood? What the gentrifying landlords never understand is that home-grown businesses like yours are what make a neighborhood chic and pleasant to live in — not the corporate bigwigs like American Apparel and Starbucks who can pad their wallets. I do hope that you all can figure out something to keep this treasure going, or to find other willing hands to take it over.

And in any case, thank you for a great five years and best of luck for the future!

By: Carol Burrell

Carol Burrell — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:02:43 +0000

I kick myself now for never making it out there. That’s what I get for being intimidated by the long train ride across the city. I feel like I’ve truly missed something special.

I hope things work out well for them, either way.

By: Charles Soule

Charles Soule — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:59:09 +0000

Sad news. This place is one of my go-to places in the neighborhood. I’m a comics writer, and when my first book was coming out Alex gave me a bunch of great advice on getting retailers to stock my stuff. I hope they can figure out a way to stick around, whether in their current location or another spot nearby.

By: Nate Horn

Nate Horn — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:44:49 +0000

I dunno if I buy this whole NYC real estate climbing exponentially in price theory. More likely, Rocketship is just another victim of the awful economy. I mean, good stores are closing everywhere in the country. Unemployment is sky high right now, so it makes sense people with jobs aren’t going to spend as much cash on non-essential goods.

By: Torsten Adair

Torsten Adair — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:32:05 +0000

A great store, truly a model of how a comics shop should be run. An uncluttered space, a prominent children’s section, numerous events, a fantastic selection…

Living at the Toppa da Bronx, it’s always a trek to visit, but always worth it! I hope they find a new location, because this type of store is the future of comics retailing.

Thanks, Rocketship, for an incredible five years, and for proving the concept! Hoping for the best!

By: Chris Pitzer

Chris Pitzer — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:37:02 +0000

I wish Alex and Mary all the best!

By: AudioComics

AudioComics — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 07:39:32 +0000

Really sad news.
The reasons are unsuprising.

I hope there will be another rise of Rocketship in NYC, but the realist in me says that that would be a longshot with NYC real estate being NYC real estate. And people wonder why all of my artist friends are moving out of the city. Just too damned expensive to live there.

Lance Roger Axt
The AudioComics Company

By: Eric Reynolds

Eric Reynolds — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:15:49 +0000

Fuck. I knew this was a possibility, but fuck.