Beloved Hamilton comic book store closes amid rent hike but owner says he'll be back

Piles of bright comic books line the walls as Gary Burton makes his way aroundhis Hamilton store in late July,attempting to pack up his business of over 30 years.

Burton, 62, who has lost most of his vision, is being evictedfrom his Barton Street East location, but said he'shopeful he'll open Burdin's Comics somewhere else soon.

"I feel like I need to do this for my customers because they've been so good to me," Burton said.

On Tuesday, a few of thosecustomers were in the store packing up comic books, posters, trading cards and paraphernalia. Sean Morrison was among those helpingout.

"Most of the people who've come in and realized what's happening are devastated," Morrison said. "This is a home away from home for me."

WATCH |Comic book store owner shares why he's stayed in the business:

As comic book store closes, owner shares why he's stayed in the business 30 years

30 days ago

Duration 0:36

Facing increasing rent, Gary Burton closed Burton's Comics on Barton Street East on July 31, 2024.

Burton was dealt two blows this year that led to the store closing.

The first is cataracts in both eyesthat have caused him partial blindness. It's hard for himto see clearly, and small fonts are impossible to read, so he's been gettingcustomers to enter their own totals into the cash register, he said.

He hopes to qualify for surgery soon to restore his vision.

Landlord says she's trying to force Burtonout

The second issue is with his landlord, Burton said.

He's been renting the Barton Street East location for seven years, payingabout $600 a month.

But in March, his landlord startedincreasing his rent, as she's allowed to do under Ontario's commercial tenancy rules.

By August, it was set to riseto $1,500 more than double the original amount and Burton knew he couldn't afford it, he said.

Business has been slow, with customers feeling the pinch of inflation and higher cost of living, Burton said. Comic books aren't high on their list of essential purchases.

Burton's landlord, Cassandra Goslin, 61, said in an interview that she's feeling the same financialpressures and has health issues of her own.

Both the property tax and insurance for the building have increased in the last year, Goslin said. She also expressed concerns about the amount of items Burton'skeeps in the shop.

"I'm trying to get him out," Goslin said. "That's my building, my retirement fund."

There's also a rat infestation that, she said, can't be dealt with until Burton leaves. Burton disagrees with that.

But he said he has no choice but to leave, carefully packing each item into a storage unit to be sold in the future.

Burton said he has been a comic book fan his whole life. He began collecting comic books and "freakin' loved them" and began selling them fromthe end of his east Hamilton driveway to kids on their way home from school.

He opened a shop on Main Street years ago, but in anticipation of disruptions from plannedlight rail transitconstruction, decided to relocate to Barton Street East in 2017.

He said he'll look for a new space for Burdin's Comics later this year.

"I love the industry," Burton said. "Nobody leaves upset."