Over the weekend, Silver Sprocket owner Avi Ehrlich announced that the publisher’s eponymous store in San Francisco would be closing down immediately due to debts and rising costs. You can read the complete statement below, but they are having a 30% off sale today and an online 15% off sale.
Ehrlich noted that the store had been profitable up until 2023, but rising rents, and a drop in foot traffic in the Valencia neighborhood where it was located had cut into profits. He also admitted he was also not equipped for some of the business decisions of retail. Keeping the store afloat had resulted in him taking on a great amount of personal debt that was not sustainable.
The staff has been laid off, and a GoFundMe is running to help them weather this.
I visited the store twice and it was one of the most beautiful comics store spaces I’ve ever been in, with the most delightful mix of underground and indie comics and books, as well as space for events. In a city taken over by techbros, it was a throwback to the bohemian spirit of the city that will be much missed. Just a wonderful part of the community and it’s a real loss.
The comments to Ehrlich’s Instagram post are full of supportive notes from other comics stores and cartoonists, but others on social media pointed to last year’s article at The Comics Journal that reported continued business irregularities, cartoonists who were unhappy about their royalties and more. The treatment of staff also continues to be criticized.
Earlier this year, Silver Sprocket the publisher announced a new distributor (PGW/Ingram) and restructuring, along with their 2026 slate of books.
Setting aside the controversies (which will doubtless continue to be a topic of conversation), the San Francisco comics community is losing a wonderful space and given the current retail climate there, we probably won’t see its like for a long time.
The full statement below:
I’m saddened to announce that Silver Sprocket’s San Francisco storefront’s last day of operation will be this Monday March 23rd.
Everything in the store will be 30% off through our last day.
Please swing by, we’d love to see you at 1018 Valencia one more time.
Your online orders are deeply appreciated. While we are having this sale in-store only to help clear inventory, you can get 15% off online with code: 15sale
Why so suddenly, and why right now?
The unfortunate reality is that even with the positive response to our membership drive, difficult staff cuts, and every other action we could think of, the store continues to lose money each month. To offset the drop in sales over the past three years, I have been supporting the store by taking on personal debt. Personal debt has never been sustainable, and I’m well past the end of the road for what I can take on.
While there were challenges, the store was generally breaking even until 2023. It must be said that I was running this store from a place of deep passion, but not from experience, or expertise in retail. While this may have worked out for a business with wider margins, the factors familiar to all of us experiencing a changing San Francisco had an outsize impact. The drop in foot-traffic, lower sales at all businesses on our part of Valencia Street, fewer tourists, rising expenses, and the general economic uncertainty impacting people’s spending made it impossible for the retail store to sustain itself.
Our Crew
With the store closing, our amazing staff is very suddenly finding themselves out of work. Our managers Josh and Sol, along with part-timers Parker and Chrissy, have been the absolute best collaborators I could have ever hoped for in this undertaking going above and beyond in being dedicated, diligent, hard working, kind, and passionate about all aspects of the operation. Working with them has been an honor and delight. They will be looking for work. Please reach out to josh@silversprocket.com or sol@silversprocket.com to get in touch.
What’s Next?
**Thank you ♥️
The past 9 years of a Silver Sprocket storefront has truly been the dream. We’ve been able to champion our favorite indie comics, worked with hundreds of creators, hosted countless community events, provided space, resources, and a platform for artists within this loving and creative Bay Area community and far beyond.
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Just last month during our event for Pride In Panels, the Silver Sprocket shop was recognized by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence as a Sacred Space. Being recognized this way, for the unique and important community space we created, was an incredibly moving experience that brought us to tears. It is a peak achievement we can hang our hats on and be proud of, as the lights go dark.
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I hold tremendous gratitude to everyone who has brought their work to our storefront over the past nine years. To the people who stopped by to read on the couch, used our scanners to make a zine, borrowed our stapler, attended readings, shows, book launches, skill shares, drawing nights, and came to our parties; to those rallied to support our membership program; and especially to each and every member of our amazing staff over the years; thank you. For everything.
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Thank you all so much for being part of this journey with us.
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I have a lot of work ahead to wrap things up, and will do my best to answer any questions via avi@silversprocket.com.
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I hope you will join us on the next chapter.
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-Avi Ehrlich
Owner & publisher, Silver Sprocket
