Downtown Sacramento coffee shop/comic book store closes permanently
Oblivion Comics & Coffee has reached its final chapter.
The comic book store/coffee shop hybrid is closing three years after it first opened at 1020 11th St., according to social media posts Tuesday night.
Oblivion’s Chocolate Fish-based coffee bar and sandwich station have already shut down, but owners Laura Benson and Neil Estaris will clear out their shelves of graphic novels, toys and other merchandise through Sept. 29.
“This year has brought so many challenges that most businesses could never have planned for. COVID-19 specifically has changed how the world works and businesses that have been built around bringing people together are struggling to continue to do so,” Oblivion’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts read.
Benson and Estaris won the Downtown Sacramento Partnership’s 2016 Calling All Dreamers competition and opened Oblivion the following May. Named for DC Comics’ Oblivion Bar, the owners wanted to build an homage to heroes or villains where anyone was accepted, “geek or not,” according to Oblivion’s website.
Oblivion has financially struggled throughout the coronavirus pandemic, like many other downtown businesses. It was vandalized after the George Floyd protests in late May but recovered more than $7,000 through GoFundMe donations.
“We continued to work hard on ways to bring our community together through comic books, good coffee, vegan food and various events in our geeky little space,” the posts read. “We’ve seen our staff, customers and even vendors become our friends and our family during these last (three) years, and words cannot express how much we love and appreciate you. We will miss you all severely.”
2017 Calling All Dreamers winner Milk House Shakes closed in May, while original 2013 champion Andy’s Candy Apothecary closed downtown last month but hopes to find a new landing spot next year. 2019 winner Nash & Proper will open its first brick-and-mortar hot chicken restaurant at 1023 K St. on Wednesday.
This story was originally published September 16, 2020 at 7:03 AM.