Midtown Comic Book Store Raises Money For New Location

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — A Midtown Manhattan comic book store is raising money to keep its business in New York City, according to a fund set up by the store's owners.

JHU Comic Books, located on East 32nd Street between Madison and Park avenues, lost its lease after five years in business at its current location, its owners said on a GoFundMe campaign page. The owners have located a new space a few blocks away, but will need to do "some major work" to get it ready for business.

"We currently have a wonderful clientele, and by moving into this new space, we are hoping to expand on that base and become even more of neighborhood fixture," the store's owners wrote on GoFundMe. "Sadly, our kind of buisness is becoming a rarity due to the onslaught of online retailers. We are not just a shop, we are an atmosphere! We look forward to continue to be able to serve New York City comic book fans, while keeping ourselves employed in the process!"

Donations will go toward paying contractors and movers to get the new business set up. The fund has raised more than $4,000 since it was created Monday and has a goal of $30,000.

JHU Comic Books was opened in 2013 by employees of Jim Hanley’s Universe — a decades-old comic book store based in Staten Island. The store carries a "well-curated selection of comic books and graphic novels" and features works from big-name and independent publishers. The store also has a wide selection of children's comics.

Check out JHU Comic Books' fundraising page here.

Photo courtesy GoFundMe