Death of a Dream

When I worked at Shinder's News and Books, I was able to get wholesale comics. I could pre-order what I wanted and then I would pay cost for them as a perk for working in a nightmare world.

But I wised up, and left the world of retail and a company that treated me like pond scum and got a real job. And I lost my comic connection, but I had friends who worked at this little store named DreamHaven. I wasn't getting whole sale, but it was in Dinkytown, close to home and I liked the people. They even gave me a 10% discount card that is good forever. Like, I never have to renew it, it is my discount for my life or the life of the store.

But then the Dinkytown location closed, and the Uptown location was my only option. It was ok, it was a bit more difficult to get to, but I could get there and it was on the way home from work. It was a bigger store, the people I knew worked there and it was my shop. Every friday, I would visit and get my comics and talk and laugh and go home. A weekly end cap of fun and monetary transactions.

However, road construction and an icky economy forced another change. They would be moving their location to a new store, further away, but I like them and I would follow them to this new location. That was, until, I was told the truth. The owner had laid off all my friends. They would not be following him to the store, no one would. It was just going to be him. And, he was cutting down things that he didn't feel sold well, like comics. So, I could still get my comics, but I would need to have a big list and make sure that things that they carried freely before were on that list since chances were, I would not have a wall of comics to choose from. Just some best sellers and things he knows. But worse, I wouldn't have my people. My Friday crew, the people I have visited for the last 12 years or so. What made it a joy to shop there would be gone.

And I thought about it, and the joy of comics has been leaching away as well. Call me old, call me grizzled or whatever, but I don't feel that they have the same quality they did before. That comics simply aren't what I remember them to be.

So, when DreamHaven closes it doors and opens some new ones, I will not walk through that new set of doors with them. A hobby of 24 years is coming to an end (as much as I can. I am sure a few titles will still work into my home, but maybe not). I am sad that this had to happen to such good people, and I am upset that they are left in the cold from a store they gave so much of their lives to keeping up and running and friendly.

Goodbye DreamHaven. I will always keep my lifetime card in my wallet and remember when.