Veteran Bay Area retailer Brian Hibbs, of Comix Experience, Savage Critics, and Tilting at Windmills fame just announced something pretty momentous: he’s acquired a second store by purchasing the assets of Comic Outpost. Hibbs will take over running the store on Monday December 16th. ON a FB post he added, “I have nothing but good things to say about owner Gary Buechler, and I think that store is a great testament to his love and passion for comics! I’m going to work hard to match that passion.”
And then he added on Twitter:
I think I have put together an exceptional staff for the two stores. We drank champagne tonight and talked about our passion for comics.
— Brian Hibbs (@savagecritic) December 13, 2013
Comics Outpost was named one of SF’s Top Five Comics Shops, but seems to have run into some recent troubles with staffing and getting comics on sale on time. Although we sometimes spar with Brian here at The Beat, we have the highest regard for him as a passionate seller of comics, and the fact that he was able to take on a second store—one that for whatever reason wasn’t going to continue in its present form—is good news for comics shoppers. Hibbs notes that the store is more superhero than he used to selling, so there will be some learning moments—and, for sure a bunch of very in depth Tilting at Windmills columns.
While the final name of the shop hasn’t been settled, “Comix Experience Outpost” is the working title.
Congrats!
I vote for “Comix Outpost”.
That is an old list you’ve linked to as two of those five closed in 2011. Neon Monster in August and Al’s Comics in October.
Though don’t cry for San Francisco, we’ve still got Isotope, Comix Experience and Comics Outpost, Whatever…, Two Cats, Amazing Fantasy, Mission: Comics & Art, Collector’s Cave, Cards & Comics Central, and Jeffrey’s Toys.
All Right ! I will Never go there since I live 2000 miles away !
Wasn’t there an outpost (ha!) of Comix Experience in North Beach back in the day? Or was that a different comics store?
That was Comics & Comix, Bruce. They had two stores — Irving Street in the Sunset district, which was bought out by the manager and is now Amazing Fantasy, and the North Beach store just off Columbus, which I worked at for a decade but has been closed for a number of years.
I read somewhere that the new store was going to carry OGNs only. ;)
Just kidding, congrats to Mr. Hibbs!
Congrats to Mr. Hibbs. He’s a smart man and knows his biz.
Thanks Robert, I always think of that store when I pass it’s old location. It was a really good store as far as I remember.
Congratulations Brian! Good luck with the 2 store set up!
This is very interesting to me, as I have had 2 stores in the Bay Area for over 25 years now. I know that it’s not always easy! I’m hoping that Brian will share all the details of the his successes and challenges as he goes along.
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