Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse is a comic bookstore and coffee shop hybrid located in the Kensington section of North Philadelphia. The idea for Amalgam was born in 2003 when the owner, Ariell Johnson, was still an accounting student at Temple University. Thirteen years in the making, Amalgam opened its doors to much acclaim on December 14, 2015. Since its opening Amalgam has garnered national media attention because of its commitment to representation and inclusion. Perhaps this is testament to Amalgam being the only black-woman owned shop of its kind, as well as the first black-woman owned comic bookstore on the East Coast.
The store is a celebration of geek culture. A place for comic book fans, hardcore gamers, movie addicts, television connoisseurs, and zombie apocalypse survivalists to meet, and with their powers combined, change the world a little bit. Whether you’re enjoying a warm cup of Philly Fair Trade coffee at a table bearing the Thundercats logo, or browsing through the many shelves in search of a rare find, amalgam has something for you no matter where you are in your nerdy journey.
While the shop is a shining symbol of the rise of nerd culture among the black demographic, it does not end there. Amalgam has grown in its capacity, becoming not only a comic bookstore and coffee shop but a true community space which hosts a wide variety of events including classes, workshops, book signings, movie screenings, open mic nights, birthday parties, yoga classes and more. This commitment to serving the public through excellent service, by way of the knowledgeable staff, has earned Amalgam an overwhelming number of positive reviews on sites such as Yelp, Twitter, and even Trip Adviser.
Though Amalgam has seen a great amount of success since their doors opened in December of 2015, the coronavirus has presented an array of new challenges. Owner Ariell Johnson and staff have had to use a great deal of creativity and resourcefulness to remain afloat during these perilous and uncertain times. Covid-19 has left its mark on just about every industry related to arts and entertainment. Across the nation, sales from independently owned comic bookstores are feeling the pinch in the wake of this global pandemic. To help Amalgam serve customers during the pandemic, Johnson has learned to rely more on e-commerce. Over the past nine months her business has done more web sales than it had over the entire year and a half before. The website previously had a limited product selection; it’s now a key source of revenue.
I spoke with Ariell and got the chance to ask her some questions. The first of which was how she got the inspiration for Amalgam. She stated that the heartbreak of her mother’s passing provided the motivation, as well as the means for her to pursue her dreams. Ariell said, “ I wanted to make sure that whatever I create it be would be something my parents would be extremely proud of. I knew the moment I opened the doors of Amalgam that they were looking upon me smiling.” On the topic of superheroes, Arielle lists Wonder Woman from the DC universe, and Storm as her favorites. Storm is not only her favorite Marvel Character, but the inspiration behind her venture into nerd culture as a whole. She is however, in support of, and relates to, all strong women who exhibit a warrior’s spirit. When I asked about her future plans, she shared that she definitely has plans in the works, and that she was not able to disclose any details at the moment.
Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse has become an absolute pillar in the Kensington community. Being from there herself, Ariell feels that it is important to provide a safe space for her for people to be able to create freely and feel like themselves. Everyday kids will stop by after school and hang out with friends. Often losing track of time, to the point where parents will call the store to let them know that it’s time to come home.
It is really a wonderful thing for these children to have a safe and creative after school haven where they can be among like-minded peers. Being able to read and share information about heroes and other characters that they can relate to as black people is a powerful thing. Amalgam provides an environment to showcase not only existing Marvel and D.C. characters but new black science fiction authors and comic book creators as well. “To not see yourself ever represented as the hero or the protagonist does start to wear on your self-esteem and your self-worth because it’s like you’re not valued enough to learn more about or write a story about,” Johnson said. “Diversity is important because we live in a diverse world and the media that we consume should reflect the reality of the world. It’s healthy to see other people represented because it helps you relate to people.”
When asked about black nerds and why there seem to be more and more identifying with this label Ariell stated, “We have always been here. I think now black people are really starting to embrace themselves as a whole. We are expanding our thinking and realizing that there is not just one definable way to be black. We are finally embracing that new level comfort and beginning to explore.who we are as a people.”
Nikki Jeffrey
