Fantom Comics Closes Shop at Pentagon City Mall

by ARLnow.com June 2, 2010 at 2:52 pm 3,147 5 Comments

It’s enough to bring a tear to Thor’s eye.

Fantom Comics, a tiny oasis of graphic novels in a far-flung upper corner of the Pentagon City mall, quietly closed up shop on Sunday.

Owner Matt Klokel said another business wanted Fantom’s space and was able to get it due to a clause in the store’s lease. Klokel said he would have had to pay twice his current rent to keep the space.

“To all of our [mall] customers, we at Fantom want to thank you for your patronage,” Klokel wrote on the store’s blog. “We love the spot, had a lot of fun, and had hoped to serve you there for many years to come.”

He added: “I would also like to point out that our Union Station store is still open and running strong, and we hope to see you there!”

To our knowledge, Fantom’s closure means that there are no comic book shops left in Arlington. Anybody know otherwise?

Lou

There used to be one up in Williamsburg Shopping Center, but that was years ago. No idea if it is still there.
Greg McE

To the best of my knowledge, Arlington’s back down to zero. Nearest ones now (depending on if you go north, south, or west) are Big Planet Comics in Georgetown, Aftertime Books in Old Town Alexandria, or Victory Comics in Falls Church.
John Mz

Also over in Vienna is Big Planet Comics in the Wolfe Trappe Centre on the eastern edge of commercial Rt 123, and EG Comics across the street, next to Anita’s. In Falls Church there is the Compleat Strategist, however I don’t believe they sell comics; they might be an RPG store.
Skeptical

I don’t know if Hole in the Wall is still open on Broad Street in Falls Church. I used to have subscriptions there.
Hiro

That’s too bad. I would have loved to check it out as I’m just getting back into comics/graphic novels after a 15 year hiatus. I never even knew it wa there… It would have been a nice break for me while the wife is shopping.

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