The East Village is quickly changing, and these changes are also forcing businesses out. After 36 years on St. Marks Place, St. Mark’s Comics will close its doors at the end of February.
The iconic shop on one of NYC’s most famous streets announced Tuesday, January 29, on Facebook that they are deciding to close due to many obstacles and “too many of them at once to fight.” The post goes on to further explain their reasoning to close as well as how they’d like to go out—spoiler alert, not like a funeral!
There are lots of obstacles to running a retail storefront in NYC; too many of them at once to fight, and after 36 pretty intense years, not enough left to fight them.
We are forever grateful to our customers, who made it possible to pursue our passion for so long.
To our families and friends, without whose patience and indulgence we could never do all the things required to run a retail business for 36 years.Most especially, to all the talented and dedicated staff, mostly now extended family, who contributed their time, expertise, ideas, and love to make this the very best shop it could be.
We’ll see you soon to say goodbye and share a good memory.
Let’s make this month a wake, not a funeral.
St. Mark’s Comics will be having a store-emptying sale from now (Wednesday, January 30) through their last day.
The shop has been around since 1984, and owner Mitch Cutler told EV Grieve in a brief interview that: “There are a number of things that contributed to [the closing]. I have been working 90 hours a week for 36 years, and I no longer have the wherewithal to fight them — all of these various reasons. It is challenging to have a storefront business in New York City for a number of reasons … it is challenging to keep and maintain a retail storefront and there are enough impediments now that — like I said, I’m exhausted and can’t fight them anymore.”
What: St. Mark’s Comics
Where: 11 St. Marks Place
When: Monday-Tuesday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Wednesday, 9 a.m.-1 a.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 a.m.;
Sunday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
featured image source: photo modified / yelp / Khristopher B.