Local Comics Store Spotlight: Casablanca Comics

The foundation of ComicBook.com is comics. While we love to cover all aspects of pop and geek culture, our roots lie in the comics community and the plethora of characters and stories that have sprung from it. If you speak with anyone in the comics community about what has made the medium successful in North America, you’ll quickly discover one answer that stands far above the rest: local comics stores. They are the bedrock of comics in the United States and Canada, supporting fans, communities, and conventions with open doors and a dedicated staff.

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This year on ComicBook.com we are highlighting this important aspect of comics and culture by taking a look at one local comic store each week. These are stores that embody what it means to support culture and community. We hope you can visit some of them throughout 2017.

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Any longtime reader of comics will appreciate the importance of contrast. When you jump between the first and final issues of favorite modern series like Preacher and Y: The Last Man, the contrast is dramatic and reveals how incredible the journey has been. Even when you consider series that never really end like The Amazing Spider-Man, the difference between Amazing Fantasy #15 and the most recent issue is stunning. The same can be said of great things in real life as well. Just consider the difference between the first and most recent year of Casablanca Comics in Maine.

When the store first opened in 1987, Casablanca Comics only occupied 150 square feet in what had previously been a barber shop, and it was still nestled directly behind a hardware store. Looking around the first iteration of the shop you could still see the mirrors and sinks once used for straight razor shaves. Within one year Casablanca Comics outgrew that location and now operates in two much larger stores in Windham and Portland, Maine. However, that initial spot still makes for a great origin.

Considering where this store started shows that it takes more than a great location or fancy setup to succeed. There’s drive and passion at the heart of every comic book store that cannot be imitated. It’s the only explanation for why Casablanca has remained where so many others collapsed since 1987.

Rick Lowell, current co-owner alongside Lauren O’Meara, says, “[The store] is deliberately very open and not cluttered so that people can browse comfortably.” Unlike the old barber shop layout, the current shops have been cultivated to invite casual readers and new customers. The size and layout are certainly more welcoming. In addition to the much larger spaces, the stores also feature a much better array of comics. They feature a long list of all-ages books for any set of eyes that may enter, and proudly cultivate a selection of great comics in almost every genre imaginable. In addition to the wide selection, the staff at Casablanca Comics is prepared to help any reader find just the right comic for them. “Our staff is very well read and friendly, and can make recommendations and match a reader up with the perfect book for them” says Lowell.

Click ahead to learn how the heart of Casablanca Comics has remained unchanged in spite of its many changes.

Casablanca Comics (Part Two)

The focus at Casablanca Comics has not changed over 30 years of business. “Our goal from the beginning of our store in 1987 was to share the wealth of comic book material available with a wider audience” says Lowell. Where other shops centered on collectors and speculators during the boom of the 1990s, Casablanca continued to seek out new readers. That may have seemed foolish when holographic covers were selling faster than hotcakes, but has paid dividends in the past couple of decades.

That success has led Lowell to reconsidering the store as a comics shop. He mentions that they are really a “specialty book store” based on the audiences that frequent their locations. Their emphasis has always been on comics, but the audiences and interests vary wildly from the standard American comic book store. “We have many families who shop with us due to our selection of all ages material” says Lowell. Parents can discover a thriller to keep them entertained after the kids’ fall asleep reading Bone.

Lowell also notes that there has been a strong shift away from the “Wednesday Warriors” who are the lifeblood of many other stores. While there are still fans who show up on a weekly basis prepared to snag the newest installments of their favorite adventures, decentralizing this experience has benefited the Casablanca Comics. People come to Casablanca like they would any other bookstore, looking to load up on collections for gifts and a stack for their own nightstand. That doesn’t mean the classic image of comics buyers has passed though. The shop has seen a resurgence in collectors and is sure to include many vintage issue for these fans, as well.

No matter how the audience has changed or grown, Casablanca Comics has always been interested in helping whoever wants to read comics. It doesn’t matter whether a family or superfan walks through the door, whether it’s a collector or newcomer, the staff at Casablanca are there to help. Lowell is adamant when he says, “Everyone should feel welcome and comfortable in your store.”

That is a philosophy that has served Casablanca Comics well over 30 years and many locations. They have always focused on helping comics readers first, with no concern as to how long that person has been reading. It’s possible for any resident of Maine (or visitor to the state) to come inside and find a helpful smile and great new adventure. While there have been a lot of changes over their time in business, the character of the store has remained consistent. Whether it’s in an old barber shop or a snazzy new outlet, Casablanca Comics has always been there to help show that comics are for everyone.

Click ahead to see full details and photos of Casablanca Comics.