By Julie Shapiro
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
FINANCIAL DISTRICT — Midtown Comics isn’t just in Midtown anymore.
The 13-year-old comic book shop opened a new location on Fulton Street Wednesday morning, bringing its wide array of new releases, back issues and collectibles downtown for the first time.
Co-owner Jerry Gladston sees the 3,700-square-foot store as a vote of confidence in the future of comic books, despite the encroaching digital comic market.
"Comic books are still a wonderful American art form," Gladston, 49, said as he gave a tour of the second-floor shop Wednesday afternoon. "Even [compared to using] an iPad, it’s more exciting to hold the real comic book."
Gladston picked the Fulton Street spot, halfway between Ground Zero and the South Street Seaport, because it is a nexus of tourists, commuters, students and residents — many of whom are in the target comic demographic of men ages 16 to 60.
The sunlit space, which until a few months ago housed the Fulton Chef Chinese restaurant, underwent a gut renovation before Gladston packed it full of more than 10,000 comic books, graphic novels and themed paraphernalia. The lease will last at least 10 years, Gladston said.
Many of the customers who stopped in on Wednesday said they were accustomed to trekking up to Midtown Comics’ Times Square and Grand Central locations, but the new store was much more convenient for them.
"I love it," said Travis Buonocore, 36, as he walked out with half a dozen new comics Wednesday afternoon.
A consultant based in One New York Plaza, Buonocore said he usually leaves work early on Wednesdays, the day new comics are released, so he can beat the rush to the Times Square location. Now, he was pleased that he could wander over to Fulton Street on his lunch break without having to contend with crowds.
"It’s nice to have a store down here," agreed Nicole Grieco, 26, a Staten Island resident who works a couple blocks down Fulton Street and bought a collection of web comics and a book about "Watchmen."
Until Wednesday, lower Manhattan only had one other comic book shop: the 20-year-old Chameleon Comics & Cards at Maiden Lane and Broadway.
Chameleon manager Steve Wu remembers when the Financial District used to have half a dozen comic stores within a few blocks just 10 years ago, but Chameleon’s 600-square-foot shop is the last one left.
Wu said he wasn’t worried about competition from Midtown Comics, but was encouraged to see a new store opening at a time when the future of comics is so uncertain.
"We’ll see what happens," Wu said. "Maybe it’ll help — maybe it’ll get more people downtown."
Midtown Comics at 64 Fulton St. is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays noon to 7 p.m. Opening specials include 40 percent off all back issues through Dec. 9 and two signing events: John Layman, creator of "Chew," will be in the store on Dec. 16 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Jim Lee, co-publisher of DC Comics, will sign books on Dec. 19 from 2 to 4 p.m.
