FOCUS: Big Ben's Comix
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| Ben Davis, owner Big Ben's Comix shows off some of his classics. |
Ben Davis is a resident of Dearborn Heights, but he has made Allen Park home to his comics and collector’s items business since 1984.
Business history
Davis, 45, got into the comics business by first starting a used-book exchange. During that time, he happened to buy a collection containing some comic books. He soon learned that there was more money to be made in comics than in used books.
Davis has owned and operated Big Ben’s Comix at 8241 Allen Road since 2000, but it’s his fourth location. His first location, The Book Bank, at Allen Rd. and Russell, later moved to downtown Allen Park near the theatre. Next, he opened Comix Oasis, which was located at Allen Rd. and White.
Today, Comix Oasis is his EBay online store. Davis has been an Ebay seller since 1998, but recently that business has really taken off. His feedback rating is currently 6,207, with 99.7% positive feedback.
“It accounts for a third of all my business”, says Davis.
A collector’s paradise
Big Ben’s comprises 2,800 square feet of pure comic nirvana. You never know what you may encounter at Big Ben’s Comix. Some past collector’s items range from a comic book that has sold for $100,000 to “stuff a bag for $5”.
Besides comic books, collectables include statues, action figures, cards, card games (like Magic The Gathering and World of War Craft), pop culture and other “neat stuff”.
Services
Some of Big Ben’s hottest items are trade paperbacks – paperbacks that contain stories from The Daily Planet (Superman), Dark Night (Batman), and other classic superheroes. New comics arrive each Wednesday morning.
Why not sign up for a monthly subscription? Whether for a trade paperback, comics, or whatever your fancy may be.
Do you think you may have some collectable gems? Bring them in for cash or merchandise. “I’ve seen items range from priceless to worthless”, says Davis. But his 20 years of experience, along with his extensive resources, goes a long way to fairly appraise your “gems”.
Davis and his wife of eight years have two kids; a 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old girl.
FocusALLENPARK.com thanks Ben Davis and Big Ben's Comix for their time and support. Visit their FocusALLENPARK.com web page.
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