***** PLEASE NOTE *****
Much of what you see below was posted before the COVID-19 outbreak. Obviously, the landscape has changed in the past few weeks. We will still be opening a new store in Linthicum, it just won’t be in April. Hopefully, May… or June… we shall see. Read on!
In early summer of 2020, Cosmic Comix is leaving Catonsville and moving to Linthicum Heights, MD. This page your one-stop information source for everything dealing with the moving process! Where are we going? When exactly? How’s it gonna work??
Plenty more information to come, obviously, and there will be plenty of changes as we move. But in the end hopefully the store will be even better than it is now... bearing in mind that it took us 16 friggin’ years to get Cosmic Comix where it is now! 😂
Okay let’s get the big questions out of the way first. Where exactly are we moving? When exactly are we moving??
These questions are answered in the image at left. We’ll be moving right around the middle of April to a shopping center in the heart of downtown Linthicum. You can get there via the Beltway or back roads and, depending on traffic, it’s about 10-12 minutes from our current location in Catonsville.
Mar. 13, 2020
ACTION FIGURES
Obviously, we've still got FOUR MORE WEEKS here in beautiful downtown Catonsville. And until we leave, we've got
MOVING SALES ALL OVER THE STORE!
Not the least of which is the entire action figure wall.
It's quite a sight (even when it's not shot in panoramic mode). Click to enlarge and check out some of the deals! You'll see:
$5.00 VINIMATES!
50% OFF UNMARKED ACTION FIGURES!
$5.00 MINIMATES!
WALKING DEAD FIGURES BUY 1 GET 2 FREE!
Plus, we've still got the entire other side of the store loaded up with MOVING SALES too! Including...
50% OFF ALL RECENTLY RELEASED COMICS!
50% OFF All REMAINING TPBs & HARDCOVERS!
CLEARANCE TPBs BUY 3 GET 1 FREE!!
STATUES FOR $29.99!
Mar. 12, 2020
NEW STORE PICS
We've been doing some serious work over at the new place. Just yesterday, Rusty and I were making tweaks to the ceiling, getting the counter in place, and hanging Plastic Man!! Now... I'm not saying we're close to being finished... or even close to being close. But I will say this: I AM SUPREMELY JACKED ABOUT IT. It's gonna look so good, y'all!
Mar. 6, 2020
MOVING SPECIALS
Yesterday, we moved all the shelves on the left side of the store over to our new Linthicum location. And in fact a good chunk of our regular store stock has moved too. But we have replaced those shelves with several tables' worth of hot deals to ratchet up our MOVING SPECIALS! Check it out!
But you better act sooner than later. Because like I said, and as the countdown reel confirms, we've only got about FIVE MORE WEEKS here in Catonsville! ⏰
Feb. 27, 2020
TPB INVENTORY
You've probably noticed that the shelves are starting to look a little spotty in places. That's because we've started adding trade paperbacks to our NEW INVENTORY SYSTEM! It's all computerized and extremely technical, like advanced rocket science I'd say, so I won't bore you with the details.
The upshot is this: as we are entering the TPBs into inventory, we are then taking them over to the new store. Hence the disappearing books!
Feb. 26, 2020
New Business Cards
Today, I submitted the order for NEW BUSINESS CARDS! I know it doesn't sound all that exciting... but I enjoy the design process.
Feb. 21, 2020
Ceiling Update!
As for what we've been up to this week, a gooooood chunk of time has been devoted to a question many of you have been asking:
What's gonna happen to the ceiling??
It's an important question! The artist – longtime friend of the store Ken Farnsworth – worked on the ceiling for most of 2014 with his wife, Melinda, and it's been a point of pride for us ever since.
We've been working with Ken to figure out exactly what we're gonna do. Since the new space is longer and skinnier, obviously it doesn't fit exactly the same. Difficult choices had to be made. But we think it'll look pretty good. CHECK IT OUT!
As of right now, this is what the ceiling will look like at our new Linthicum location. CLICK TO ENLARGE! The purple squares are overhead lights, the green squares are air vents. The blue... well that's the new bathroom!
The current plan is to move the ceiling over to the new spot NEXT SATURDAY, FEB. 29. So if you want to get a look at it while it's still here in Catonsville, laid out exactly as it was designed to be, and in all its glory, COME BY IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS!
Feb. 21, 2020
Subscriber Boxes
Rusty spent about six hours this past Sunday adjusting the SUBSCRIBER BOXES for easier transport. Sanding... filing... unscrewing... rescrewing.. etc.
From what I heard, it was a grind and definitely not one of the funner tasks of the move – not as fun as writing these emails, anyway!
Feb. 20, 2020
Action Figure Racks
If you've already come by the store this week you probably noticed some new ACTION FIGURE RACKS we're working on. They still need a fresh coat of paint and a little polishing up before they're totally done, but these racks are taller than the old ones and will be able to fit nearly twice as many figures!
FEB. 19, 2020
The Batpole!
You might recall from earlier pictures of the new location that there's gonna be a pole located right in the middle of the store. We have officially dubbed it... THE BATPOLE!
And you better believe we've got some very fun ideas for it, not the least of which is turning it into an actual Batpole that leads down to an actual Batcave! Unfortunately, we've run into some permit issues with excavating a 1000-square foot secret lair so close to the Light Rail. Stupid red tape....
Anyway, Plan B is to at least make it look like a real Batpole, complete with that round cushion at the bottom... which for us will basically be a round sofa.
FEB. 14, 2020
50¢ Back Issues!
We might be in a transition right now, but you better believe we've still got plenty of back issues. In fact, that's what I want to talk to you about today. All the back issues that are still here at the store – and there are still tens of thousands – are part of our 50¢ BACK ISSUE MOVING SALE!
Pretty simple, folks! If it's in a bag and a board, it's only gonna cost you 50 CENTS! So come on by, dig deep, and help us lighten the load!
Plus, speaking of lightening the load, we've still got HUNDREDS OF ACTION FIGURES and STATUES available at "we're moving" prices!
FEB. 13, 2020
The First Trip!
WE ACTUALLY STARTED MOVING SOME COMICS THIS WEEK!
Nothing too crazy, just you know 80 LONG BOXES OF BACK ISSUES and some SHELVES. Don't sweat it too much, though, we've still got an entire store full of new comics, trade paperbacks, figures, and more for you. It's just that we're now what you might call a... team in transition!
FEB. 12, 2020
The Countdown Begins…
We realized today something kinda cool: if we're looking to open our doors at the new location on Wednesday, April 8, then that means we only have EIGHT MORE WEDNESDAYS here in Catonsville! Crazy to think about. 😳
FEB. 7, 2020
Moving Updates!
We don’t really have any new news to tell you this week, but we do have a few updates on the nuts and bolts of moving a comic book store... which is very much like moving any other store... except there are comics! Check it out:
The new place is just waiting on carpet! It's scheduled for next Tuesday, Feb. 11. Hopefully that will allow us to take our first truckload over on Thursday, Feb 13, at 11:30 am!
If you feel like carrying some heavy boxes that day, we'll be taking back issues. DC & Marvel plus the $4.99 & $9.99 books. Plus some bookcases! It'll be a solid test run.
Outside signage is also very close. We'll probably be cutting it close to April 1, but it's finalized and in the works.
Our new Point-of-Sale (POS) system is up and running! We still have to work through multiple downloads and a training session, though, so we still haven’t been able to poke around too much with it yet.
Finally, we're shooting for WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, as first day at new location. Because of course it has to be a Wednesday! We'd have new comics here at the old store on April 1, then close on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, Apr. 5-7, and reopen at the new joint on Wednesday!
FEB. 6, 2020
Commemorative T-Shirt!
Here’s a sneak peek at something else we are working on... a new T-shirt designed by Cosmic Comix subscriber, friend, and regular guest CHRIS VANCE!
First there was Ellicott City... then Catonsville... and now an astonishing rebirth in the city of Linthicum!
JAN. 31, 2020
The New Store!
As you might expect with a moving date coming up in April, we've been over to the new space several times in the past month. Keeping an eye on progress... making sure electrical outlets are in the right spots... seeing just how the hell we're gonna get the ceiling laid out over there... and so on.
So let’s take a look at 529 S. CAMP MEADE RD!
As you can see, we're right next to Papa John's and Subway on one side, With a nail salon on the other side. I hope you'll also notice the AMPLE PARKING! 😄
But what about the inside of the store? I mean that's the important stuff right?? Let me just go ahead and put your mind at ease. The new store will be almost the exact same size as the old store. Slightly different dimensions (the new store is longer and skinnier) but just about the same square footage. Here are a couple progress shots...
When we drove over there last week, Jan. 22, the electrician was still working, some tiles were missing in the ceiling, and it was still very much a work in progress. This week, Jan. 29, it almost looks like a space ready for our arrival! But of course we still need some carpet and a few other touches before we start the transition from here to there. But hey... check out that BAT-POLE!
JAN. 31, 2020
A New Logo!
Since we're taking the store to a totally new location we thought it would be cool to have a brand new COSMIC COMIX LOGO! Check it out, along with an artist rendition of what the outside of the store just might look like.
JAN. 29, 2020
What About the Ceiling?
A lot of you have also been asking about the ceiling! Is it making the trip with us? Will it fit in the new store?? We totally understand your concern... we love it, too! And there's no way we'd let Ken's masterpiece not be seen!
The short answer is this: we're working on it.
Given the skinnier dimensions I mentioned above, the ceiling won't fit in the exact way it does now, but we've studied the new space and are working on a new layout. Rest assured: we'll get it over there somehow!
JAN. 24, 2020
Moving Sales!
As we work through the process of moving to our new location in Linthicum we will be having MOVING SALES!
And the first one officially starts... NOW! Selected Star Wars, Star Trek, and Walking Dead figures, plus Minimates, are all going on Sale.
And of course there's more to come! Not everything will be on sale, mind you... there are stock items that will not be part of any moving sale. Watchmen and Saga TPBs, Marvel Select and Pop figures, new comics this week, for example.
But for now it's all about action figures! Plus, if you see something you want and want to ask for a special moving discount, go ahead and give it a shot. The response might be, "That’s a stock item, sorry." Or you might get one heck of a moving deal! You never know 'til you try. How about that dusty thing in the corner... or even a giant wood carving of Spider-Man!
“Want to help us move? THANK YOU! We might just take you up on it. But the easiest way to help is to buy yourself a little something extra next time you’re in the store. Take it home with you so we don’t have to move it!”
JAN. 16, 2020
Your New Comics!
Over the next few weeks, as we prepare for the move, we will be tightening up our new comics orders, all the extras / surplus copies for the new comics rack. We have to do this for many, many reasons, most of which you can probably guess. What this means to you:
SUBSCRIBERS
One of the benefits of being a subscriber is (hopefully) never missing a book… as long as it’s on your list! And in preparation for the move: WE HAVE NEW LISTS! And those lists have every single ongoing title for the major comic book companies, which should be good until April 1-ish when we move. So if there’s something you’ve been reading off the rack… something at home that you keep forgetting… get it on your list! We ain’t gonna have a lot of extra copies. Streamlined, baby!
CLUB CARD HOLDERS & OTHER FRIENDS
Don’t forget how important you are, too! But, like I said, we will be tightening up our new comics orders. So if you’re used to coming into the store and picking up what you want off the rack… never been too worried about it… we totally understand. It just might be a little riskier over the coming weeks, mainly in the sense that you might not find what you want! As always, if you want to make sure you don’t miss anything… start a subscription!
JAN. 9, 2020
A Brief History
Cosmic Comix has been in business since 1991. From the very beginning, we’ve said that our primary goal is to help people in their reading and enjoyment of comic books. I’m proud to say that is as true today as it was 25 years ago, and we plan to maintain that goal in our new location.
But as you can see, we too have evolved over the years. Starting out way back in old Ellicott City with “Cards” in the name; then hanging out right here in Catonsville for 16 years, name slightly updated with “Toys;” and now heading over to our new digs in a new location and with a brand new start as… COSMIC COMIX!
