In what Monarch Comics owner Ed Katschke described as the work of a “real holiday miracle,” the shop will be soft-reopening with new comic book day on Dec. 26.
TOLEDO, Ohio — Less than two weeks after the blackest night in the history of Monarch Comics, the brightest day is now on the horizon.
In what Monarch Comics owner Ed Katschke described as the work of a “real holiday miracle,” the shop will be soft-reopening next week with new comic book day on Dec. 26.
The beloved comic book store’s revival follows a community effort from dozens of volunteers who immediately got to work cleaning up the devastation and “soggy mess” left behind by water used to battle a blaze at the south Toledo shopping center that Monarch Comics called home.
Another local shop, Freedom Comics, stepped up and offered help to take care of customers as owners Loren and Misty Smith lent a hand to their fellow comic sellers.
It’s a process that Katschke has been documenting on Monarch Comics’ Facebook page, with Wednesday’s update announcing the upcoming reopening a few doors down from the wreckage at 4400 Heatherdowns Boulevard.
The landlord is allowing Monarch Comics to take over the old Colonial Village Barber Shop space, Katschke said, where they will set up shop to sell new comics while working to rebuild stock. Monarch Comics will be open normal hours at the former barbershop location.
Katschke cautioned that the soft opening will be low-key to start with, and said that the Monarch Comics crew will take the weekend off before getting back to work.
A well-deserved rest before the next chapter begins.
If you would like to help Monarch Comics rebuild, the shop has partnered with Jupmode for a fundraiser featuring t-shirts and hoodies, available at Jupmode Supply until Dec. 30 at midnight.
This article was published by Diane Woodring (WTOL) on 2024-12-19 18:08:00
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