Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Liebowitz.
Hi Ryan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
World-famous “Comic Shop to the Stars” has been serving the Los Angeles area since 1979. Founded by my parents, Bill and Sharon Liebowitz, our local family business has been the best source for comics, graphic novels, collectibles, and more for over four decades. One of the many highlights of this business is the high-profile clientele as well as in-store signings, promotions, and events with celebrities and the comic book industry’s finest creators.
When my father passed away in 2004, I was living and building my career in event coordination, hotel bookings, and catering in Las Vegas. I dropped everything, sold my house, and moved back home to run our family business. During the last 20 years, I have moved our flagship headquarters shop, sold our second Valley location, and started a publishing company, production company, VR company, online business, and a non-profit organization. I have also weathered many years of a down economy, a global pandemic and kept up our status in the community and comic industry as a store with the best selection of goods as well as the place to meet your heroes.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
After my dad passed away and I came back to run our family business, that was the first time I had a chance to inspect our financial situation, and it was bad, very bad. We had accrued many debts were grossly overspending on products, labor, rent, etc. Getting our business free of debt and in good financial standing was our main mission, and my mom, Wife, and I have been working to achieve that goal for many years. Once we finally got our head above water, the pandemic knocked us down again. Our shop we forced to close by the city for three long months and deemed “non-essential”. Unfortunately, we still had to pay our rent, bills, and overhead. We found clever ways to stay afloat, finally reopened, and continued to build our brand and community back up. In addition, 2020 also brought the George Floyd protests in the area where our business is located. Thankfully, we only had our windows broken, but our security gates held the angry mob from getting inside. Many businesses were burned, looted, and destroyed, including the building we moved from several years earlier. There have been other minor setbacks like theft, unforeseen expenses, ADA frivolous online lawsuit, etc., but we are grateful for all of our wonderful and loyal customers, community, and industry support. We hope to continue our family legacy as long as comic books are being printed and beyond.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My best qualities are my work ethic, creativity, and event production. I have always loved coordinating and working events, on a small and large scale. In my career, I have run one of the largest fundraising events at AIDS Walk Los Angeles and New York in 1998 & 1999, comic conventions at WonderCon in 1999 & 2000, iconic Hotel Casino Meetings at Las Vegas Hilton, top in-flight catering companies at Air Gourmet and countless events at Golden Apple Comics in Los Angeles and Northridge, CA.
I love the process of logistics and seeing an event from start to finish, even doing the graphic design, marketing, and promotions. Setting up an event is a rush in anticipation to make sure all details from the customer’s point of view are met and hopefully exceeded. After an event is over, I am elated, exhausted, and proud, but also depressed. Working on the next one is the only way to bring that joy back and set new goals to entertain more people. So, whether it is just a sidewalk sale, a convention booth, street fair, parking lot tented event, in-store autograph signing, or other event, it is where I thrive, and our promotions are the backbone of our business. When customers get to meet a real-life comic creator/artist/writer and/or celebrity that inspires them and makes them happy, it is all worth it, and my job that day is fulfilled until the next time.
What matters most to you? Why?
Happy family, employees, and customers. This is a goal that may never be complete every day of every year, but it is the most important thing when running a business. There is nothing worse than disgruntled employees or unhappy customers, and nowadays, with the internet, apps, and technology, businesses can’t hide from the truth. Keeping a great reputation at work and a happy family at home is the balance that I strive to keep daily and fuels my work ethics.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://goldenapplecomics.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gapplecomics
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goldenapplecomics
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GAppleComics
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoldenAppleComics
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-apple-comics-los-angeles
