Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Correction Sept. 17: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the name of a Haywood Road business that’s planning to close at the end of the year. The business that’s closing is Rhetorical Factory.
Ashvegas stepped on the toes of long-time supporter Reciprocity earlier this week when this post went live. To set the record straight and make sure our supporters know that we truly care and support them back, we need to say WE’RE SORRY! Reciprocity IS NOT CLOSING. They’re open Tuesday through Sunday @ 732 Haywood Rd in West Asheville. You can check them out online at reciprocityofwnc.com.
Haywood Comics, a new nerd shop featuring new and used comic books and video games, as well as vinyl records, turntables, toys and more is set to open at 600 Haywood Road in West Asheville in about a month, according to owner Doug Cegelis. (The shop is located just a few doors down from the new location for Firestorm Cafe & Books.)
Cegelis and a business partner have big plans to expand around Asheville with two other similar stores. The shop, fashioned after Cegelis’ admiration of Massachusetts-based Newbury Comics, is “tailor-made for West Asheville,” Cegelis says. The hip Haywood strip is already home to the venerable Orbit DVD, but Cegelis says there’s plenty of room his shop, too. “We’re excited to be part of the West Asheville community.”
Cegelis, who has lived in Asheville for 20 years, comes to his brick-and-mortar location after about a decade of selling used video games online. The 1,000-square-foot store will be chock full of “a little bit of everything,” he says.
For example, patrons will find comics and video games, but they’ll also find used vinyl records and a turntable-and-speakers package. There will be plenty of video games, with the Haywood Comics grand opening featuring a Tecmo Super Bowl tournament, he says. And with the impending movie release this year of the latest Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, Cegelis says he plans to devote about three-quarters of the store to Star Wars merch.
“We want to pack it with everything nerdy,” Cegelis says.
The store has a parking lot for about eight vehicles, which is crucial for the thriving Haywood Road corridor, which has seen a wave of new restaurants and retail shops opening over the past couple of years. Most recently, two shops have announced closings. The clothing shop Get it Kitten at 428-C Haywood Road just announced this:
With deep deliberation I have decided to close our Haywood Road location and operate as an on-line retailer and at local pin up girl and tattoo events. Find our gorgeous clothing and accessories on line at getitkitten.com. Coming later this week!
Thank you to everyone who has supported the Kitten in it’s year long journey. Never could have done it without you! Looking forward to our next big year, bring it!
Also, Rhetorical Factory at 444 Haywood Road has announced that it is closing at the end of the year.
Actually, Apples to Oranges my friend- Haywood Comics is super CUSTOMER oriented and doesn’t have that too cool hipster vibe(NOT naming any shop names). Plus, it’s always healthy for the community to have local competition. Oh and remember…… competition haters are just giving out free advertising. This all coming from a experienced business owner-welcome to the neighborhood HC!
Haywood Comics appears to be doing very well. I went in last Saturday and I have to say these are the nicest people I’ve encountered in a Comic Book Store, which is not really just a comic book store at all. As much as I love Harvest, I enjoy the mix of records at Haywood more. There’s a good selection of board games, toys, the best t-shirts I’ve seen in Asheville, and I can’t even remember what else.
Star Wars merch! We have a winner! Great idea… I’ll be there.
Best of luck to the store, I look forward to checking it out! There are a lot of kids within walking distance in that neighborhood who would love to take advantage of a store like this, so I’m hopeful that it keeps a focus on young shoppers as well as grown-up hobbyists and nerd culture obsessives.
I can’t even express in words how excited we are to be the W Avl go to for kids of all ages. I have a 13 year old myself whose been giving me all sorts of recommendations ( : – See you soon!
I think it sounds cool. The whole corridor is expanding. Seems like plenty of room for more unique retail. And this place seems to have more of a mix of stuff rather than a finely tuned specialization.
putting a shop in the middle of one of the best record stores on the east coast, with a very loyal customer base, and a dvd rental shop/comic book/used games that is one of the best on the east coast with a very loyal customer base is not the best business decision.
Apples and oranges my friend, but thank you!
No its apples and apples because you are selling Comics (Orbit does this), Video Games (Orbit does this), and vinyl (Harvest does this). Welcome to the neighborhood, but who are you fooling? You are competing directly with them.
We look forward to meeting you after we open, thanks for the reply!
huh?