Marc and Kae welcomes Ariell Johnson of Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse as they talk about the inspiration of this unique concept.
Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse is a comic book store 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. 13 years in the making, Amalgam opened its doors on December 14, 2015. Since its opening Amalgam has garnered national media attention because of its commitment to representation and inclusion. Amalgam is the only black-woman owned shop of its kind, and the first black-woman owned comic book store on the East Coast.
Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse 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. We specialize in comics, toys & figurines, games, comic related magazines, apparel, coffee & espresso related beverages, and baked goods. A safe haven for all of geekdom! Pick your poison…and enjoy! Proudly serving Philly Fair Trade coffee!
Ariell has dreams of one day becoming a super-hero. When she’s not trying to catch up on her reading or binging a new favorite TV show…ahem…The Gifted…she’s dancing, practicing circus aerials and throwing axes. Being a geek is in her blood, with a father that was a huge comic nerd and a mom that was a sci-fi nerd, things like Thundercats, She-Ra, Gargoyles, Red Dwarf, X-Files & Quantum Leap were a huge part of her childhood. At this point her fandoms are too many to count, but X-men is still #1 in her heart.
News stories about Ariell
New York Times – In Philadelphia, a Comic Book Store Dedicated to Diversity
Philly Mag – I Love My Job: Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse Owner Ariell Johnson