After seven years of service to the community of Brownsville, Nostalgia Video Games and Comics said goodbye to its customers by hosting a “final level” event on Sept. 9.
The store marked the end of an era as it closed indefinitely.
Nostalgia’s owner Jesus Cortez said his reasons for closing include increasing exposure through an online forum and saving money on overhead expenses.
“It’s hard to compete with the Amazons and Walmarts of the world,” Cortez said.
Employee and Cortez’s mother-in-law, Juanita Hernandez, witnessed the many kinds of people who passed through the years.
“Profesionistas, gente trabajadora, estudiantes, de todo”, Hernandez said.
Longtime comic book enthusiast and middle school teacher Andy Najera experienced the store’s closing firsthand.
“It [comic books] means literacy for a lot of people, art also, experiencing art. But I guess with the internet and online buying and online now, books stores and comic book stores are kinda maybe going the way of dinosaurs,” Najera said.
As the economy and society changes, business owners have to change with it, local business owner Eric Saenz said.
“I think that is where everything is headed right now, there is opportunities online for sure,” Cortez said.
Saenz, who is also a longtime customer, expressed his appreciation for the now closed store.
“To have a place to come and pick it [comic books] up versus to have to get everything online, it was amazing ,” Saenz said.
Regardless, the goodbye brought everyone to tears, Hernandez said.
“Todos estan llorando,” Hernandez said with tears in her eyes.
According to Cortez, an online shop is still in the works; it is expected to open within one or two months. However, its Facebook page will still be open.
“It’s been kind of bitter sweet with the closing because I get a lot of people that are sad, but it’s been good,” Cortez said. “Thanks for seven years.”
