Save The Comic Shop — A San Leandro Treasure Since 1979

For more than 45 years, The Comic Shop has been a beloved part of San Leandro’s history — a safe haven for comic lovers, manga readers, collectors, families, and fans of every age. We are now facing the heartbreaking possibility of closing our doors, and we are humbly asking for your help to keep this community landmark alive.

Our Story

The Comic Shop first appears in San Leandro history in 1979, when it was owned by John, a man whose passion for comics was matched only by the people who walked through the door. One of those people was Miryam, a dedicated fan who began collecting comics in 1977. The two became fast friends, and she became one of his most loyal customers — always first in line for each new shipment.

In 1989, John passed the torch and sold the store to Miryam, who transformed it into her life’s passion.

A lover of Wonder Woman, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and shows like Star Trek, The X-Files, and Xena: Warrior Princess, Miryam brought her enthusiasm to every corner of the shop. She represented The Comic Shop at countless conventions and worked to foster a deep community connection — including partnerships with the San Leandro Public Library to make comics more accessible to children. Her mission was simple:

Help kids fall in love with reading, the same way she once did.

A Home Across Generations

Over the decades, The Comic Shop moved through several San Leandro locations:

East 14th, near McKinley Elementary

Bancroft & Dutton (later becoming Paradiso’s Wine Room)

The Green House Marketplace, next to Papa Murphy’s

And now, our current home in the Floresta Center

No matter where it stood, the shop was more than a store — it was a second home. Customers grew up with us. Families spent afternoons browsing together. And characters such as Lee, Jim, and Chris became local legends to those who visited.

A Loss and a New Chapter

In 2022, our beloved Miryam passed away. She left the shop to her sister Norma, who had worked here in the early ’90s, and the two of us did our best to preserve Miryam’s dream.

I’m Eric, now co-owner since September 2023. I’ve always been passionate about comics. As a kid with dyslexia, comics were my doorway into reading — from Asterix and Tintin to Archie, Spider-Man, and Batman. They didn’t just entertain me; they shaped me. That’s why I’ve dedicated myself to helping others — especially neurodivergent (neuro-spicy) children and adults — discover the stories that bring them joy, comfort, and belonging.

I am doing everything I can to honor the legacy of those who came before me and to keep the shop’s tradition of kindness, knowledge, and customer care alive.

Why We Need Help

Like many small businesses in the Bay Area, we have been hit hard:

Many long-time customers have had to move away due to rising costs

Medical hardships have made keeping the store open increasingly difficult

Break-ins and theft

We are now at a critical moment. Without assistance, The Comic Shop may have to close — ending more than four decades of community, connection, and shared stories.

What Your Support Will Do

Funds raised will go directly toward:

Rent

Inventory debt

Payroll

Your support will help stabilize the shop long enough for us to rebuild, reorganize, and continue serving the community that has supported us for 45 years.

Why It Matters

The Comic Shop is one of the oldest comic stores in the East Bay — a place built on friendship, fandom, acceptance, and love of storytelling. It has given thousands of people a place to belong. It has launched lifelong readers. It has been a refuge for neurodivergent fans, kids discovering comics for the first time, and adults reconnecting with the joy they found in childhood.

I want to keep that magic alive.

Please Help Us Keep the Doors Open

Whether you can donate, share the fundraiser, or simply tell people about us — every bit helps. Your contribution will make a real difference in saving one of San Leandro’s most enduring and heartfelt small businesses.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story, and for supporting The Comic Shop in any way you can.

— Eric (Co-Owner, The Comic Shop, San Leandro, CA)

Keeping Miryam’s legacy alive.

Because every hero needs a home base.