Latest Postings

Retire in Style... With Your Pets! ( Nance Cox @ HarborPlace )
The "Tree of Life" Ceremony at HarborPlace ( Nance Cox @ HarborPlace )
Florida Oceanographic offers earth friendly gifts! ( Jen Millhollin )
Attorney Goldstein, friends aid White Doves ( Justin Beard - United Way of Martin County )
Some “Sound” Advice about MP3 Players ( Rick Kottler )

share a story | more postings »

YourHub.com \\ Stuart \\ Stories \\ Collecting \\ Other

Keeping Comic Books Alive for 24 years

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

NEXT › ‹ PREVIOUS

Contributed by: "Capt Joel" Kilmer - Big Dog Comics on 10/2/2007

Come October 7 it will be 24 yeas since hometown local Joel Kilmer chased his dream and opened Fort Pierce's first comic shop. It was a small shop of 400 square feet. With only one week before opening his business partner decided he wanted out. Things were pretty minimal on opening day but "Capt Joel" as he would become known had big dreams.

Over the months the store stock grew and so did the customer base. After 3 years he moved from his store, across from Savannah road on US1, to a 800 sq ft store 3 miles south behind Dunkin Donuts. Capt Joel/OK Comics was proud to serve the children and patrons of Saint Lucie County for the next 12 years. With his comics for A's reward program for diligent hard working kids, and his charity work with local church's, hospitals and of course the libraries, he donated comics as quickly as collections came in.

As good as things were the wind was taken out of his sales on day when he opened his store to find it burglarized. A few months later insurance dropped OK Comics. It wasn't impossible to find a carrier but things had changed. Now what he had paid per year is what all companies wanted a month! Dealing with this and the dark cloud of bankruptcy hanging over Marvel Capt Joel did what he had to. He sold off 90 % of his store, down sized, and became a private subscription service and mail order store. For the next 7 years customers could pick up their books or have them delivered to their home.

As they say though 3rd times a charm as one night in mid October 2005 his wife Susan told him the store front he had wanted for 18 years would soon be available. Even though he had just helped a friend, who was down on his luck after the double hurricane whammy, open a comic shop in Ft. pierce , Capt Joel new he could also help the people of Saint Lucie county find good books. With DC and Marvel offering more solid stories to read in there vast selection of titles and Trade Paperbacks, the selections could be fantastic.

So on Dec 1 2005 Big Dog Comics reopened to the public with a 2800 square foot store, the largest comic and gaming shop on the Treasure coast. Ft. Pierce native Capt. Joel now continues his 24 yr. tradition that started with Ok Comics. From a small 8ft shelf years ago to a 28 ft long shelf of new comics featuring all the main DC and Marvel titles plus the largest selection of independent comics on the treasure coast. Many created by personal friends of Capt Joel. With 2800 square ft. of retail space to fill, his dream ran wild

Godzilla and Japanese toys have become a big hit as they are hard to find in the US but not in there own section of the store. With a star wars section, hot wheels, huge toy selection, Disney collectables, Statues and hidden treasures on every shelf it's not hard to feel like a kid again.

While a half a dozen comic shops have come and gone on the Treasure Coast, Capt Joel is proud to still be serving his customers and friends for 24 years now. Stop on in Saturday October 6 and register for a FREE drawing of cool comics prizes. See why it's the most enjoyed and respected comic and game shop around.

So see what dreams are made of and remember that at least for one Super big kid dreams do come true. So come see the dream at Big Dog Comics 4804 S. U.S. Highway 1 {Del Rio Plaza} Ft. Pierce. Noon to 7 PM Tues - Sat or call 466-READ {7323} for more information

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above story

Talk Back : submit comments to the story

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Thank you! Your comment has been updated.

CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

"Capt Joel" Kilmer - Big Dog Comics

Fort Pierce , FL

"Capt Joel" Kilmer - Big Dog Comics has posted 384 stories and 3 comments since joining on 5/5/2006. "Capt Joel" Kilmer - Big Dog Comics 's average story rating is 4.95.

view profile » view other postings from "Capt Joel" Kilmer - Big Dog Comics »

SAVE AND SHARE THIS STORY

STORY RSS FEEDS

All stories

All stories in Stuart

All stories by "Capt Joel" Kilmer - Big Dog Comics

Loading Ad

Story

"Capt Joel" Kilmer - Big Dog Comics