Brendan Wright chats with Portland, Ore. retailer Jason Leivian about his shop, Floating World Comics:
Wright Opinion: A lot of the stores I’ve shopped at have broken down into either very much serving the Wednesday crowd and then the more bookstore-oriented things like Comic Relief in Berkeley, but when I describe your store to people, I usually say, “half comic book store, half art gallery.” Is that, you think, a fair description of the store?
Jason Levian: I think of it as three stores in one, and it’s cool that you mention the art gallery––for some reason I don’t even consider that when I describe it. It’s sort of like the record store of comic book stores, if that makes any sense. Most record stores are independently owned––stores that sell vinyl––and each one is going to have its own flavor depending on the owner’s tastes. Record stores usually want to keep out of print stuff available. The idea for the store was originally inspired by my bookshelf at home, in a slight moment of vanity. I’d just moved to a new house and I was setting up my bookshelf, and just admiring the books on the shelf, thinking, “This is a nice selection of books. I have a cool bookshelf.”
You may remember Floating World Comics as the retailer that hosted the really cool Bill Mantlo tribute/Rom art exhibit last year.
April 11th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
This is actually my local comic shop and I cannot recommend it enough as THE place to go in Portland. If you’re visiting and want somewhere with great selection, perfect service and a terrific atmosphere, Floating World Comics is THE place to take in.
April 11th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Speaking of the ROM show, any word on the book collection of those? I recall reading that such a thing was planned, but haven’t seen further info just yet.
Hope to visit this store later in the year when I make it to Portland. Between Powell’s and Floating World, I could hit PDX and never go outside. Might be for the best, depending on the weather.