Desert Island is a beloved mainstay of the Brooklyn comic book scene. A small shop that leans towards art books and indie publishers, it has been a champion of comic arts for 16 years. And now, it might close, unless they can raise $79,200 by October 15.
The news of Desert Island potentially closing was first announced on Friday (October 4) on the shop’s official Instagram account. “Goodbye cool world!” they wrote. “Someone approached our landlord and offered almost double what we’re paying in rent, we have no lease, and landlord says we have to match it or vacate by January 1st 2025. Their price is untenable for our modestly successful business, and frankly it’s too much for anyone to pay. Been hesitant to post anything alarmist because there’s too many unknowns but it’s clear a change is gonna come. Much love to you beautiful people who have shared this dream with us.”
Look, nobody is going to get rich owning a comic book shop, it’s something done purely out of love (or spite, in some cases, but the less said about that the better). However, it’s clearly gotten even harder in recent years to run an independent shop like Desert Island — and just in general, New York rents can be unforgiving. So that was it for Desert Island…
…Until yesterday (October 6), when shop owner Gabe Fowler posted a plea to raise funds to possibly keep the shop open. “Ok folks, we’ve heard you and we’re going to try to do a fundraiser so we can keep Desert Island,” Fowler posted. “We have until Oct 15 to resolve the details with our landlord. If each of our insta followers kicked in a dollar, everything would be fine. Details at the link in bio.”
The great news? Since the GoFundMe was posted, the shop has already raised just under $49,000 (as of this writing) of its $79,200 goal… Including a massive $2,500 donation from New York-born and raised writer James Tynion IV. Nothing is killing the comic book shops, am I right???
That’s awesome and all, but there’s still a long way to go. And to be frank, the more the better here as getting Desert Island the rent they need for a landlord who is jacking up the prices is a band-aid on a bullet hole. Perhaps the better option is the one Fowler posts at the bottom of the GoFundMe: “Full disclosure: There is a chance that we could move to a new location, and in that case, these funds would finance the transition, build-out, and new lease.”
Either way, it’s a great shop, a good cause, and comic book art — and those who support it — is always worth supporting.
Thanks to Nat Towsen for the tip on this one.
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