Comics and Kicks comes to St. Marys
Downtown business sells pop culture
ST. MARYS — Two St. Marys natives capitalizing on the Pleasants Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Pop Up store concept have opened a retail shop in downtown St. Marys.
Daniel Najar and Morgan Haddox recently launched Comics and Kicks on Second Street.
“We are a small business that sells pop culture items, shoes, and comic book-related items. We do buy, sell, trade, and consignment,” Najar said.
Najar is a 26-year-old grad student at Ohio University who grew up passionate about sports. He credits his partner Haddox, who has a business degree, as the business savvy member of the partnership.
Comics and Kicks also offers collectibles, jerseys and sports memorabilia.
“Graphic novels, jerseys, sports apparel, Walking Dead, Game of Thrones,” Najar said discussing the store’s growing inventory. “We have stuff for kids, adults and collectors.”
“Kicks” is slang for shoes, more accurately collectible sneakers. Vintage athletic shoes, such as Nike Air Jordans, have become collectables.
Najar’s first sets of baby shoes were Air Jordans, which he still owns.
“We have dead stock, near-dead stock and consignment shoes,” Najar said detailing the “kicks” inventory. “These are sought-after collectibles.”
Najar saw the chamber’s pop up store ad and responded.
“I’m from this area. I’m passionate about this area. This is a great base with great people here. Getting small business back into St. Marys, especially on Main Street, there can be an economic revival,” he said.
The chamber, working with Lee Shingleton at Leo Flower Insurance, secured space in downtown St. Marys for Najar to try out his idea.
“Last year, Union Bank stepped up to help the community and a small business. This year, Lee Shingleton, her family and Leo Flower Insurance was generous and helpful with its effort and generosity to get Comics and Kicks up and running,” said Jody Murphy, executive director of the Pleasants Area Chamber of Commerce.
Comics and Kicks is located next to door to Flower Insurance at 320 Second Street in downtown St. Marys. The store is open noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Najar said starting the second week of December, the store will open noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
For more information the check out the store’s Comics & Kicks Facebook page or @comicsandkicks on Twitter and Instagram.
Najar is committed to giving the pop up store three months to test the market in St. Marys. He wants to give back to St. Marys.
“People are quick to write off small towns,” he said. “Main street can evolve with small shops and shopping local. This is me trying to give back.”