A comic bookstore is moving into a more visible location in National Hills Shopping Center on Washington Road with a grand reopening set for Oct. 23.
“For three years, we have been off the beaten path and had no anchor store to draw in customers to the center we were in,” said Chris Galloway the owner of Top Dog Comics, previously located on Shartom Drive.
Top Dog Comics is moving into a former shoe store next door to The Fresh Market. The new space is substantially larger. The Shartom Drive location had 2,000 square feet, and the National Hills shop is more than 7,000 square feet.
Galloway has been in the comic book and collectible game for decades. He started out as a collector before making it a business.
“I have collected comics and sports cards since the mid-80s, so I now get to work doing what I love. I only attend and sponsor one show, the Augusta Toy and Comics Show (Joefest), every June right here in Augusta,” he said.
With his father, he started his first shop in 1990 in Conyers, Ga. He also worked as a trainer and manager in the Games Workshop trade department.
Top Dog Comics came via Top Dog Pawn.
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Galloway served as the general manager of Top Dog Pawn and started selling comics and collectibles there in 2015.
“I started it, designed it, and ran it…the whole thing from the ground up when it came to comics and collectibles. From what we carried, to how it was priced, and how it was merchandised were all me,” he said.
In 2018, he bought the inventory from Top Dog Pawn and started Top Dog Comics.
The larger space means more merchandise.
“We expanded all of our merchandise lines: comic books, toys, sports cards, gaming and autographed memorabilia. We have expanded from just sports autographed memorabilia to now include horror and pop culture autographed items. We have also added new product lines including First Legion gaming miniatures and Scale 75 paints,” he said.
He doesn’t have anything special planned for grand reopening day, but there is an event planned for Oct. 27.
“In the new location, we have a designated area for artists, writers, or guests to set up for signings and events,” he said. “Our first guest is Jason David Frank (the original Green Power Ranger) coming Oct. 27.”
Frank will be at the shop beginning at 4 p.m. and will stay until “the last mask standing,” according to a Facebook event.
Galloway said he’s grateful for his loyal customers and hopes to see them on grand reopening day.
“I want to thank all the great people here in Augusta and the surrounding areas — we have many great people in Columbia and other cities that often travel to see us — for supporting us and helping us grow; we would not be here and moving to a new, larger location without them,” he said.
