Newbury Comics Moving to South Shore Plaza

After nearly 20 years perched at Five Corners in Braintree, will move into a two-floor location at the within two months, expanding its offerings to include more clothing and other fashion accessories.

Demolition is finished at the 5,200-square-foot space formerly home to the music store F.Y.E., which closed in February, Newbury manager Richie Parsons said. Construction began last week and the new store will likely open in June.

Parsons, who has been with the company for 27 years and has also managed the original location on Newbury Street and the one in Harvard Square, said there were several factors that went into the decision to move, but none as pressing as the changing shape of the music industry.

"Newbury Comics has always been a store that has attracted a customer base from the very young to the very old, and I think we've lost some of the very young to downloading," Parsons said. "I think this site at the Plaza can bring them back."

The local chain was founded in 1978 and has since grown to include 29 retail locations in New England, as well as a clothing store called Hootenany in Harvard Square and www.punk.com, a website featuring apparel and accessories. It is those latter ideas that the Plaza store will attempt to highlight, Parsons said, while still selling music, DVDs, posters, comics and other items for which Newbury is best known.

Customers will enter the store through the main level, where clothes from brands like Fred Perry, Ben Sherman, Vans, Soundgirl, Hurley, Converse and others will be on sale, alongside displays of best-selling CDs and DVDs. A lower level will be home to more entertainment products. The move also means more Newbury employees in Braintree, up from nine who work at the Franklin Street store to 15 to 16 at the new location, Parsons said.

"I have pretty high hopes for it," he said.