I have sad news to report. Fat Jack’s Comicrypt has lost their lease and will be vacating their center city Philadelphia location after almost 50 years in business. According to this article May 29th will be the shop’s last day as the landlord is eager to rent to new tenants. Honestly, I am surprised that Fat Jack’s didn’t own the property being that they have been there so long. There was a time where the place seemed to have a license to print money. New comic day was like a zoo in there with hordes of customers gleefully throwing cash at the cashier back in the 1980s and ’90s. Readers were terrified that they would miss a chapter of a hot storyline. Of course, that was back when comics were a lot cheaper and worth reading. Fat Jack’s was a weekly habit for many, but sadly, no more.
Fat Jack’s is currently running a fire sale now trying to sell down to the the bare walls. Wednesday will be their last day in Philadelphia.
That is a shame, but print ‘anything’ is dying…
Kids love Japanese comics which sell well around the world, but traditional American comics have been on life support for a while. The lack of quality and the ever rising prices have a lot to do with it. Only being available in specialty shops like Fat Jack’s is another.
Price of comics and lack of quality have had a major impact on comic sellers. Comics are not returnable to the distributor as they once were. Shop owners buy the comics, and if they don’t sell, the shop lumps it.