Main Street comic book shop Joe’s Comics & Video Games closed its doors on Oct. 17 with plans to reopen under a new name and with new hours in the coming week, according to owner Joseph Watkins. Joe’s Comics was the only business dedicated to selling comic books in the Geneseo area and also sold tickets for Trailways of New York bus services, providing direct transportation daily from Main Street to locations throughout New York State and major cities in Canada.
Following the store’s closing, its outdoor signage has been changed to read “AuctionIT4Cash.com,” a website that is currently inaccessible. According to a sign posted in the window, Watkins will maintain the store’s pull list—a list of comic books purchased by the shop at the request of patrons who agree to buy them—by appointment until it is reopened and has established regular hours.
As details for the restructuring of Joe’s Comics remain largely undecided, Watkins has refused to comment until the store reopens next week. It is unclear how much about the store will change besides its name and potentially its hours of operation. The relationship between AuctionIT4Cash.com and this new business also remains unknown.
The Genesee Sun and Livingston County News reported that Livingston County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Flickner arrested Watkins in the early morning on Oct. 16 for driving with a suspended license and possession of a felony weight of cocaine and a small amount of marijuana.
Following his arrest, Watkins was arraigned in the Geneseo Village Court on the charges of fifth degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana, second degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle without an interlock device and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
There is currently no known connection between Watkins’ arrest and the subsequent closing of Joe’s Comics.
“I do not have any information on the business closing or if it is related to [Watkins’] arrest,” Geneseo Village Police Chief Eric Osganian said in an email.