Silver Sprocket Closing: SF Comics Store Mourned by Fans
A steady stream of customers filled Silver Sprocket’s storefront at 1018 Valencia St. On Monday, a final opportunity to purchase independent zines, graphic novels, and comics before the beloved publishing house closes its doors today. The closure follows a significant decline in foot traffic and sales, marking the end of an era for the San Francisco comics community.
Cesar Agustin, a Peninsula resident and longtime customer, learned of the store’s impending closure Sunday night via an Instagram post, followed by reports in local media. “I’m so bummed,” Agustin said, expressing disappointment for himself and his 21-year-old son, currently traveling in Brazil. “I believe Here’s the best comic book store not only in San Francisco, but the Bay Area.” He had already begun fulfilling requests from his son, purchasing a copy of Joe Sacco’s 1993 graphic novel, “Palestine,” which details Sacco’s experiences in Gaza and the West Bank, and a book by Pittsburgh-based cartoonist Rina Ayuyang.
Silver Sprocket began as a publishing company 15 years ago, building on owner Avi Ehrlich’s prior experience running a record label for the same duration. Ehrlich described the publishing house as consistently operating on a break-even basis, driven by a passion for the art form and the community it fostered. “It’s been the joy of getting to work with these artists and be a part of this scene,” he said.
The origins of the “Silver Sprocket” name trace back to Ehrlich’s time volunteering at a bike repair shop in Sacramento while completing graduate school in journalism. He was also a founder of the Sacramento bike kitchen, and fondly recalled wearing jackets emblazoned with “BC” as a playful nod to motorcycle clubs. Ehrlich transitioned from the music scene, finding it demanding with its late nights and constant travel.
“If you’re making comics, you’re by yourself drawing. If you read comics, you’re by yourself reading,” Ehrlich explained. “So many people love this stuff, but they don’t get to actually meet each other and form communities easily because it’s such a solitary activity.” He envisioned Silver Sprocket as a space to address this isolation, providing resources and fostering connections within the independent comics world.
Silver Sprocket’s commitment to the community was recognized this year by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who honored the store for its contributions and service to the LGBTQ+ community.
The publishing house’s journey included a first physical space in the Upper Haight nine years ago, secured with a unique agreement: maintaining a “for rent” sign, keeping the space clean, and paying $2,000 per month. After two years, Silver Sprocket moved to its current location on Valencia Street in 2020, sharing the space with One, Two, Three, Four Records, run by friends of Ehrlich. The record store closed during the pandemic, allowing Silver Sprocket to take over the entire space before the building was sold, necessitating another relocation.
The store’s current location at 1038 Valencia St. Had been home for the past five years. Ehrlich noted a steady decline in revenue beginning in 2023, with annual sales dropping by 20 to 30 percent. This downturn mirrors a national trend, with Forbes and Publishing Weekly reporting a decrease in comics and graphic novel sales in 2023 following a pandemic-era peak. The changing landscape of distribution also played a role, as major publishers began to leave Diamond Comics, a national distributor, in favor of direct relationships with companies like Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster.
Diamond Comics’ closure of its California warehouse last year further complicated matters for Silver Sprocket, requiring the relocation of approximately 100 pallets – or 150,000 books – to a new location. Ehrlich stated that Diamond Comics filed for bankruptcy, leaving Silver Sprocket with a $45,000 debt.
Despite these challenges, Silver Sprocket achieved critical acclaim, winning Eisner and Ignatz awards in 2024, and the Lambda Literary Award last year for “Lonnie Garcia’s Putty Pygmalion,” a comic recognized for its LGBTQ+ representation. Ehrlich had taken on personal debt in an attempt to weather the financial difficulties, hoping for a rebound that never materialized. The store was forced to lay off three employees last year.
Last week, Ehrlich discovered insufficient funds to meet payroll, with February sales totaling less than $20,000 – less than half the amount needed to break even.
Kip Ling Bassil, visiting the store Monday afternoon, reflected on the loss. “It’s a real loss,” Bassil said. “Silver Sprocket is the epitome of a third space. An indie mecca that is especially important for the LGBTQ+ community.”
While the physical storefront is closing, Silver Sprocket publishing will continue, distributing through West/Ingram, with a new release scheduled for June.