Fans Rally, Hope To Save Popular Comic Book Shop In Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — Fans are rallying around a popular comic book store in Wallingford through a GoFundMe campaign that the owner says is a “last-ditch” effort to save the business. Michael Cote, the owner of DJ’s Comics located at 116 N. Plains Industrial Rd. in Wallingford, launched the GoFundMe campaign earlier this week asking for help to recover from the economic crash from a decade ago.

“I am trying this as a last effort to save my store,” Cote wrote on the GoFundMe page. “I love what I do and have been doing it for over 20 years. That said 10 years ago our economy took a big hit and so did my base. I had to close [the] old larger location and move to a smaller location to survive. I was fortunate to do so as I know many did not survive. So I count myself lucky there. But it has not been easy. All the debt and the slow rebuilding of customer base (Many lost their jobs and so I lost them as well), has caused a slow draining of my funds. I have done all I could to patch up the holes and try to move forward but the cost has been a burden that has left me on the edge. (The loss of Jobs left me with 1,000's of $$$ of Product that if you know how Comic Shops work we order in advance per Customer request with a Store file to save said Product for them when it arrives).

“So I am putting out my hands and asking for help to save my store. If I could achieve my Goal or exceed my Goal I could once and for all rid the Debt I incurred and have carried these last 10 Years. If that happened I would be safe and able to breathe again. I know we are all feeling it out there but I cannot express how much it would mean to me as a small business owner doing what I love to be able to continue doing it.”

More than $2,600 has been raised through the first two days of the GoFundMe campaign (as of Thursday morning). Cote set a goal of $10,000. Those making donations not only professed their love of comics, but also wanted to support small business owners.

“I've been going to DJs every Saturday for over 10 years,” Adam Fox wrote on the page. “I've been a loyal customer and friend to Mike through his ups and downs, and was even there to help with the move, so trust me when I say Mike and his store are special. Comic shops live and die by the personality of the owner, the environment they create, and the people who frequent the store. Mike is extremely knowledgeable, always willing to help, and has fostered an environment where the story's regulars have become good friends. To put it bluntly, this store needs to survive for the sake of Wallingford. To those who frequent the shop, it has become an oasis. To those who have never been there, check it out. If by chance you play heroclix or wish to learn, we play every Saturday at 1pm and will gladly teach newcomers to the game.”

Jeff Harris wrote that he came into comics “later in life and worried about not ‘knowing’ a lot about comics in general. Mike welcomed me into this wonderful word and helped turn it from a hobby to a love. He is knowledgeable and helpful, always ready with a recommendation. This shop is exactly what you want from a local, independent store.”

A former customer criticized Cote on the shop’s Facebook page for not accepting credit cards and becoming “cash only” along with the new location and said he should try something different besides “asking for a handout.”

Cote responded in the comments, saying that the business was doing well and he moved into a larger location two years after buying the small shop and then two “major factors upset the balance.”

“One, people started using the internet to find things cheaper and the store to come and play,” Cote wrote. “So lost revenue as in house purchases dropped and demand for playing space grew. That was not sustainable in the long run, but I endured. Then the ax fell when the economy broke and left me with a rapidly unemployed base and rising cost. So I was forced to close great location. Then it was find a way to keep a store or find a new job and find a way to dig out of a hole that was far too deep to dig out of. I got lucky and found the location I am at now. A bit off the path, but not that hard to find at all. I have spent the last 10 years dealing with the hole that losing the large location left me in.

“This GoFundMe was a last ditch attempt to balance the books from all the accounts I lost and still had all the product from as unemployed folks had to choose rent and food or comics and games. I lost as would be expected. So if my campaign succeeds and I hope it does I can get back into the black and continue on as I truly hope to. It was a hard choice to make but in the end, I felt it was the only choice to make. We see bailouts for the rich all the time and agree or not it is a thing. So I am just looking to save the Job I love and would love to be able to do so.”

For more information, or to make a donation, visit the GoFundMe page here and the Facebook page here.

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