Life on the Road

We love to shop at local businesses, and we find there are a few niches that are still dominated by non-Walmart big box stores. Of these, two fit some of my favorite hobbies, and there are two good examples here in Norwood, Massachusetts.

Comic book shops: The distribution might have been taken over by a single monopoly, but the locally-owned comic book shop is still king. This week, I visited New England Comics. I stopped in to pick up a few comic books for some research. I wandered the shelves for a little while, then approached the clerk, who had very politely been leaving me to initiate my search on my own (I don’t like hovering shop clerks). I explained what I was looking for, and in minutes he had three recommendations to put into my hands. When more customers came in, a friendly customer took over and helped me find more cool stuff, while the clerk dealt with an unexpected inrush of business. Both the staff and the customers were friendly, polite, and didn’t make me feel like I was intruding on “their club.”

As a woman and a geek, I sometimes find comic book shops intimidating. It’s not that I’m afraid of comics or all the testosterone. It’s that there’s a blend of “Oh my god, it’s a woman!” reaction from the comic book geeks that sometimes puts me off and makes me feel like I’ve just walked into the clubhouse, ignoring the “No GURLZ” sign on the door. I’m very grateful that that was not the case at New England Comics, and if I’m back in the area for a family visit, you can bet I’ll be coming back.

New England Comics
732 Washington St
Norwood, MA
(781) 769-4552

Yarn Shops: The local yarn shop is, for most knitters, a home away from home. When your home this week is not the same as next week, you become very attuned to the ways in which other knitters can cold-shoulder a newcomer. Now, understand, the vast majority of knitting shops are very welcoming to everyone, but every knitter (and especially crocheters!) has run into the rare shopkeeper or store that has a distinct aura of unwelcome. On my last trip to Norwood, I stopped at Fancie Purls , a knitting store not far from the hospital. My first time walking in, the shop owner Ann was friendly, welcoming, and invited me to come back for the knitting days, even though I hadn’t bought any yarn! She gives a discount to newcomers, and the knitting groups were warm and welcomed me into their fold as if I’d been there all along. The knitting groups have different “cultures” themselves– one group is a little more conservative in their project choices, while the other has a more “edgy” sense of humor (you’ll have to ask Ann which one to visit!)

Fancie Purls
848 Washington Street
Norwood, MA 02062-3432
(866) 662-3719

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