The Universe of Superheroes comic book store that closed June 24 because of a fire celebrated its official reopening Friday after extensive repairs.
The store at 19 W. Washington St. features tables and is surrounded by walls of comic book shelves.
To celebrate the store's reopening and gain more business, Tom Green, who co-owns the store with Todd Grace, plans to have comic book artist signings and possibly sponsor a local wrestling league in the coming months.
James Patrick, writer of Death Comes to Dillinger and several Star Trek and Angel comic books, was the first artist to be featured at the new store.
Green also said he plans to call former customers to let them know the clubhouse-like store has reopened.
We're just ready for things to go back to normal
said Green, adding, if it were up to us we would have been open two weeks after the fire but had to get the insurance and city to sign off.
The store reported in June that it lost $100,000 in inventory. Insurance covered $200,000 worth of building repairs but did not pay for inventory.
The Athens Fire Department discovered that the fire started behind the sales counter near the printer where there were several electric wires; however, the investigation did not determine the exact cause of the fire, said Captain Ken Gilbraith.
It's an old building with lots of paper Green said as to why the store might have caught fire.
The store lost items such as original-press comic books and comic books signed by their authors.
After the fire, the business operated out of a garage next door owned by Luke Potter Photography.
Several other local businesses, including Donkey Coffee and Espresso and Avalanche Pizza, gave free food and help to employees and volunteers while they worked to repair the store, Green said. ' Rob Hardin contributed to this report.
17
Archives
Brigitta Burks
200803107400midsize.jpeg
James Patrick, a freelance comic book author, discusses the comic book industry with Andrew Johnson (foreground) Friday at Universe of Superheroes. Patrick is the first artist to be featured in the store, which had its official reopening on Friday after
