A Little Shop of Comics — Local services in Plainfield

I've been collecting comic books for almost thirty years. In that time, I've been to many, many cook shops all over the country. I never expected one the finest stores I would find to be in Scotch Plains, New Jersey.

Little Shop of Comics is first striking in that it does not fit the unfortunate stereotype of the dark and dingy, musty hole in the wall. It is brightly lit, well laid out and organized but still packed full of comics, graphic novels and games...with a healthy smattering of various comic related memorabilia. Instead of stinky carpets there's clean hard wood floors. Instead of rickety tables filled with aging cardboard long boxes there is row after row of well organized trades and graphic novels. That's not to say they don't have back issues. Towards the back are nice wood fixtures full of choice recent and silver age books. The next pleasant surprise is that the store doesn't end with what's on the shelves. The very friendly and knowledgeable owners and staff will gladly hunt down or order anything that may not be in stock. And that turned me into a regular. They have a great subscription service that has yet to fail me. Even if sometimes I forget to order a book until the day it arrives...I know it will be there. They also have a great book club that gives me store credit for every graphic novel I buy. Little Shop of Comics is a well run, well stocked, clean and inviting store. With one of the best kid's sections I've ever seen. It's the type of store that the comic book industry...

I did review this originally as 5 stars. That changed, I brought my friend to see how the store looks since we are coming from a completely different state but we were met with a disgusting and rude person behide the counter. We came all this way to watch a friend compete to be told no which is perfectly fine and understandable. When we asked on why we weren't allowed she gave us a snarky response saying "no" and we even said we would gladly pay for entry since for me and my friend it took 3 hours to get here she replied "no is no that isn't my problem you guys can leave" I understand OTS states that it's a privilege to spectate but there wasn't a need for the attitude. We spent 3 hours just getting to the store to be told to get out and spend another 3 hours getting home. I personally will not make a trip out here anymore. All she could have said was I'm sorry but we can't allow spectators here for such reason not "no is no that isn't my problem you guys can leave". Very unprofessional and just straight forward disgusting. What's even funnier is that children aren't allowed in the game room so any players who are also parents just stay away there are far better options...

A most disappointing experience. I was here with my son today, and the clerk rudely told me that "he could not have me reading a book in the store". (as my son was selecting his weekly supply of comics, I was perusing the a shelf of books). As a frequent visitor to bookstores, I was taken aback. After all, the only reason I go to brick and mortar bookstores anymore is to "read the books in the store" to make a more informed buying decision. In this day in age, with growing competition from the web, I am surprised that a business like this would push me away and make me all the more likely to make my future purchases from the web, where I am not annoyed by self-important clerks driving away customers.

I will not be back, but the whole experience makes me sad, because I know what business is like for independent booksellers, and I know the lengths to which the smart ones go to accommodate their customers and make them feel welcome. Still, I suppose that in a crowded marketplace, only those who put customer service first will survive. I wonder what sort of business will end up at this address a year or...