Like Mike said, you know, for stores to like

be inspired.

But also I want to make sure that we are a proper support system for stores to stay open.

Everybody know with any business, the first three years are the hardest.

So if a store opens up, we're going to be like, I mean, we should be there.

Be like, hey, man, get prepared for this.

Figure out what your slow month is going to be because that first year is going to be hell.

There's been so much negativity, especially directed at Stephanie, and it's really pissing me off.

Why bring comics in as a part of that mix?

Um, that starts with my upbringing.

So I got into comics from my mom.

So I read her collection growing up.

That's how I learned how to read.

And, um, ever since then, I've been enamored with, I was drawing nightcrawler and Wolverine growing up and all of that.

And there was a comic books.

I think

[upbeat music] Coming up.

I hate social media, but it's a necessary evil.

He gave us this update.

Business is surprisingly good.

This has probably been one of the better years that we've been having so far.

Yes, I'm surprised.

Um, I drive a Ford Escape, and I pay, uh, it takes 50 bucks to fill it up, which, you know, I'm in Jackson, Mississippi, so that's a lot when I was paying, like, 30 bucks.

So I'm like, "Dang, that's, that's gonna hurt." But I have had customers like, you know, scale back on, like, we have pull lists, so they'll get, like, these comics a week.

(instrumental music plays) Coming up...

CDs are coming back, which is really, really weird to me.

It's in downtown Jackson, Mississippi.

I'm over-prepared, honestly.

This year's weird, you know.

I feel it really on the record side, not so much the comic book side.

Just 'cause prices of records are just high.

Um, $40, $35 for a record is, is a stretch for a lot of folks.

(instrumental music) Coming up...

Once again, there is construction happening in front of my store.

There's no parking spaces.

Phillip Rollins runs Offbeat, that's a comic and record store in downtown Jackson, Mississippi.

In terms of business, things have been steadily growing.

We've had big success on the comic book side.

The records side has kind of slumped a bit, but it's about even in sales.

I sell mostly, like, um, used records.