Hey, Folks!
Well, here I am…sitting down to pen the last EDitorial for my first year of blessed ownership. I am actually so busy this week between “end of the year” stuff, restocking after the holidays, and a dealing with a short week that I was just gonna post all of the sub form/shipping list stuff without comment, but I thought I had better at least take the time to jot down a few comments.
First off, I really want to thank YOU, my loyal customer base, for justifying my decision to take over the business. I know I’ve said it before, both here and in person, but you folks are truly great! You’ve stuck by me through the whole year despite screw ups on my part, the sometimes crushing realities of operating a small business in the middle of a pandemic, and the various difficulties in an evolving comic business. This has been one of the best, of not THE best, years in Monarch Comics long and storied history and all of it has to do with you and your continuing patronage. Here’s hoping that Year Two goes even more smoothly and that I can humbly continue to service the Toledo comic book community in the style you have grown accustomed to!
Next I would like to take a moment and give heartfelt thanks to both of my employees over the first 12 months. Jake Teelander, my guinea pig employee, you were amazing and helpful and reliable and even when your innate sassiness threatened to drive me to distraction you were never less than fabulous. Thank you for coming on for three months and for the great job you did helping me to be the boss that I wanted to be. Your advice has been invaluable and you still continue to be one of my favorite people.
And Brian McMillin, employee #2, I give you the distinction of being the very best decision that I have made since taking over the shop. I had no real idea what to expect when I hired outside of a few vague ideas of stuff I wanted to train you to take care of and you have exploded all of my expectations right from the start. The speed in which you have managed to pick up the nuances of the business has been impressive and the range of skills that you have brought to the position have been nothing less than uncanny. Your calm demeanor has been incredibly useful especially on days when my head is ready to explode over minor or major problems which tend to mosey along on a daily basis. Honestly, I am rapidly approaching the threshold where I can’t imagine how I would run this joint without you. You have been a magnificent addition to the store and for that you should take a bow. Here’s hoping that Year Two can be just as fruitful for both of us!
I also need to thank the most important person in my life, Hillman Crawford, for going above and beyond the call of duty as both “The Boyfriend” as well as an unofficial Monarch employee. Hillman, you’ve meant so much to me and done so much for me over the nearly three years that we have been a couple that it would take several pages to write it all out. You were there helping me hold it all together not only through this crazy pandemic, but the whole time I have been trying to whip the store into shape and bring about my personal vision of what I wanted my comic shop to look like. This year has sometimes been a rough one, but you were always there with strong advice and a good shoulder to cry on. I honestly don’t think I could have done all of this without you or, at the least, it wouldn’t have turned out as well. I love you, Dragon Boy, and I look forward to having you by my side as I continue to try and make Monarch Comics the best comic book store it can be.
That’s it for me this week, Folks, and that’s it for the year. Monarch Comics will only be open 11-5 on New Year’s Eve and closed on New Year’s Day, but after that our hours will be returning to normal. Don’t forget the Post-Holiday Sale is already in progress and will continue until the end of February. I would like to wish everyone a safe and fun New Year’s celebration and I look forward to seeing each and everyone of you in 2022!