Paula Gardner is Business News Director of. “I’m from Ann Arbor and growing up here, it had totally unique stores,” he said. The 30-year comic book reader said he’s proud to have a store valued by both customers and the industry. “We’ve been thinking about that for a while,” he said.īut its commitment to Ann Arbor remains firm, Sullivan added. The store has five employees - including co-owner Steve Fodale - and Sullivan has considered opening a second store in Michigan. Sullivan said about 5 percent of sales come from direct mail customers, with very few resulting from online sources. It’s also one of downtown Ann Arbor’s destination retailers, with the bulk of its business coming from foot traffic through the store. It stocks merchandise that includes the latest publications as well as issues dating back to the 1950s. just north of East Liberty Street - for about 5 years, Sullivan said, and it’s existed in Ann Arbor for about 15 years. Vault of Midnight has been located at 219 S. “We’re a bookstore that just happens to sell comic books,” Sullivan said. Some trends are reflected, but the inventory runs the gamut of comic books, he said. Winners of the award, Sullivan said, embody what he called the “gospel of comics,” respecting them as a body of work and not just a niche or genre. Their two kids, Dana and Kiley, tried to stay up, too, but fell asleep before the announcement came through. While he wasn’t at the convention, Sullivan was watching blog reports from the event late Friday with his wife, Elizabeth. “I didn’t think we’d win It was our first year with a nomination.” “It’s just really exciting,” Sullivan said. Sullivan described the nomination as a “book report” on the store. The nomination came in part from the store, which produced a 5-minute DVD on its 15-year history, and local writer Jim Ottaviani. The award might be described as an Academy Award for the comic book industry, awarded to a store where the owners “have a genuine love and enthusiasm for the whole (comic book) medium,” Sullivan said. “We’re the first and only store in Michigan to win,” he said. Competition was intense and it reflected major retail markets. Winning is an honor for a small store in a Midwest college town, co-owner Curtis Sullivan said. The award honors one store per year for supporting its community and the comic industry. Vault of Midnight was named the recipient of The Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award Friday at the Eisner Comic Industry Awards during the 41st annual “Comic-Con” convention in San Diego. International retailers competed to earn the comic book industry’s equivalent of an Academy Award, but the winner was a downtown Ann Arbor retailer. Winning the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award is an honor for a small store in a Midwest college town, Sullivan said. Vault of Midnight comic book store owner Curtis Sullivan sits with a "Coney" toy at the front register of his Main Street store on Monday night.
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