My experiences at the Garden has been pretty hit-and-miss. Sometimes, I find some amazing books,…read morebut other times, the selection is lackluster. You really have to sift through boxes and boxes and boxes of trash comics to find anything worth adding to your collection. Given that this is the only comic shop in the northeast, you'll find that diamond in the rough or back issue you never thought of seeing in a million years. But it's not all the time that occurs. Occasionally, I venture down to the basement to check out those dollar bins, but it's a dusty, damp, disorganized area usually packed with card game tournament attendees. The atmosphere in the basement during tournament days can leave little to be desired, including foul people, odors, and language. But then again, this IS a comic book store, so those things are to be expected The main floor features a much more organized back issue selection, but sometimes, these can be rather picked over. Pricing is usually decent, with most back issues priced at a buck with recent, newer, or exclusive backstock priced just a tad higher. There is a small new release section, but it's not as extensive as you would hope to see at a comic shop. Some wall books and sets are ridiculously overpriced, while others are genuinely affordable. The Garden really is a mystery grab bag. I pop in every couple of months, hoping to find something new, and sometimes, I'm pleasantly surprised. Most of the staff is nice, too, especially given the challenge of dealing with all that goes into running a comic/card collector shop. Over time, I've gotten to know them and have started to appreciate what they deal with each day. *Bonus Tip: Double-check the condition of anything you plan to purchase, as a lot of books tend to be bent or creased. If you're patient and willing to dig, you might find something worthwhile, just don't snatch up everything so the rest of us can at least discover something in there too

I love this place. The staff is really great. They have a good selection of all kinds of products…read more This is my number one stop for cards!

This has been one of my favorite spiritual shops since I moved to Philly 19 years ago. Steve and…read morehis wife are so kind and helpful and they offer amazing products

I had a great experience. Steve & Eliana, were so helpful & made me feel seen & heard. Truly a…read morewonderful experience I had sharing stories with them & learning about all of the Angels & admiring the crystals. I will be coming back to this store. -the blue fairy

Whenever I'm on South Street I always visit Atomic Comics.This place is a treasure trove for anyone…read morewho loves comics & collectibles. From the moment I walked in, I felt like a kid in a candy store. I wish the arcade machines worked but they're only for display. The shelves are packed w/ everything from the latest ,manga,Marvel & DC (you name it they have it)issues to rare back issues that you don't see anywhere else. I spent ages flipping through back issues, discovering old favorites, & even some titles I'd never heard of before. The manga section is amazing too! Honestly, it's one of the best I've ever seen!And the collectibles! Action figures, vintage posters, Funko Pops, & even some high-end statues sprinkled throughout the store made it feel like a mini museum of nerdy goodness. The staff are super friendly & clearly love what they do. They were happy to chat about my finds, give recommendations, or just geek out w/ me over classic storylines. I even found a few hidden gems in the dollar bins that felt like little victories. Atomic Comics isn't just a store it's an experience. It's cozy & full of charm. If you love comics, collectibles, or just want to spend a few hours exploring a place where fandom really comes alive, this is the spot! I'll def be coming back!

A large, handi cap accessible comic store that has more than just comics. There's catcha machines,…read morefunko pops, t shirt, plushies, action figures, and more. There's an array of comics from good for kids to mature audiences only. The staff is friendly, the place is popin, definitely a place to stop in if you're interested in anything nerdy

Extremely cool store. I really like the curation and selection - they group everything by show/IP…read more They have Ichiban Kuji too, which is hard to find in the US. Plus, the owner is super nice and accommodating. Lastly, their prices are fair for TCGs, which feels rare recently.

Do not! I repeat do not purchase anything from here. It's smoke and mirrors…read more We walked into this store asking for Japanese TCG cards. The shop markets itself around Japanese anime goods, references working with Bandai, and presents itself as a TCG destination. What we were sold were Chinese-language collectible card boxes. Not Japanese releases. Not Japanese Bandai TCG. Not playable trading card game cards. They are novelty collectibles with printed stats that do not belong to any legitimate game system. We've now spent over $200 here believing we were buying authentic Japanese TCG product for our kid. We weren't. When a family asks for Japanese TCG cards, you do not hand them Chinese-market collectible imports and let them believe it's the real thing. Worst of all, our 11-year-old thought he was getting something amazing -- until he realized he couldn't even look the cards up because they aren't part of any real TCG. If you're selling Chinese-language collectibles, say that clearly. Don't lean on Japanese branding and Bandai references while doing it. We're done.

I've been here so many times it's not funny…read more The staff always watches me like a hawk when I'm inside as if I'm going to steal something, but I don't blame them: if I saw a guy toting a camera around, I'd be curious, too! They stock lots of random Chinese knickknacks, including toys for the little ones, pottery/tea pots, dishware, music CD/DVDs (there might be movies in there, but I can't read Chinese), and Chinese magazines - including skin ones for you pervy aficionados out there.

A little store on 10th that supplies everything from red envelopes (hong bao) to Chinese language…read morebooks and tapes (in the back) and random things like mahjongg sets, Hello Kitty pencil boxes, swords (upstairs), dishes, Buddhas, porcelain horses and CDs (up front). Plus magazines and newspapers for those who read Chinese. Usually priced a bit expensively, but if you buy a few things, you can bargain with them to cut down the prices (though not so much for the CD/DVDs and magazines/newspapers).

Excellent little book shop that caters to the romantic/fiction/paranormal readers out there. Not…read moreonly do they have books they also have cute charms and mugs. For such a small store they even have a small sale section roughly 20-30% off title price. Friendly staff always there to help. Authors come by all the time to do book signing! Amazing dynamic we have here. Got me a cell phone charm, cat lover's delight, will come back again!

[Out-of-Towner Review]…read more I'm pretty sure TT told me about Cupid's Booksthop I had a moment to stop by, so I happily did! Little did I know this area was soo cute and heavily trafficked! Parking was a nightmare, but it was worth it. But the Manayunk neighborhood is adorable! So, they claim they are the "city's first brick-and-mortar romance bookstore." But I did find another that also claims this too! Regardless, I'm ALWAYS going to go to a #romancebookstore! I also happens to walk in during an #authorevent, where Lily Larkspur was signing "Merry Meet Again. Lily said if Hallmark movies were my jam, the.n I'd like her book, so obviously I got it. Signed, and all I honestly don't need any more books (WEIRD to say), so i browsed for a good, long while. But finally, I settled on a book with the edges sprayed in a soccer ball pattern -- the girly tomboy in me loves a book about my fave sport The bookstore, all 600 square feet, is extremely packed full of all romance genres that are very visibly labeled. They also have adorable merch, clothing, and tons of romance trinkets. But BY FAR are the Cockmark (bookmarks) that are so unassuming Also, just down the street is the brand new Thrillerdeplia, a horror and thriller bookstore! I didn't have a chance to swing by, but I'm adding it to my "to do" list! Philly has a limited selection findependent bookstores but Cupid is worth a visit!

What an amazing find! This place reminds me of 7/11s in Korea because you can buy ramen, cook the…read moreramen, add the toppings, and eat the ramen here! So convenient especially if you need to take a quick lunch break. They have different options of ramen you can choose from and the store in the back has different japanese snacks, makeup, and collectibles. They have some sonny angels here and smitskis if you collect them! The sonny angels are around $28 for one which is expensive but definitely on the cheaper side for resale. Very cute find!! Cute hole in the wall shop! It extends pretty far out so the store at first looks small but it's pretty spacious.

Love this Japanese store/restaurant. $10 special with 2 wings and fried rice. Shop while you wait…read morefor food. They have a fried rice making machine. Fun to watch. Ate here 3 times in one week. Staff is friendly and they have a bar style dinner feel. Great music choice

I love this little store! The other day I had wall sconces on my mind but, as usual, when you're…read moreactually looking for something, it can be rather hard to find. I wanted sconces that would hold taper candles, not the electric sort that leave you having to hide the trailing cord. So I decide to run to Sweet Magnolia to replace a candle that had recently burnt out completely when, lo and behold!, there is the most gorgeous pair of gold-leafed wall sconces hanging right before my eyes! This is why I love Sweet Magnolia - you can find such elegant pieces here when you least expect it. I also appreciate that their prices don't put a huge dent in your wallet. $58 for the pair? I'll take them! The store also carries the greatest soy candles ever by Aquiesse which last a rather long time and come in several delightful fragrances. They also carry an array of other home goods - Forte teas, place settings, bath and body products, stationery, baby gifts, and jewelry. Definitely a great little shop for finding last minute gifts or a treat for yourself. I've seen similar items at other stores like Anthropologie for twice the price, so why not patronize a local entrepreneur instead?

My all time favorite boutique in the neighborhood! Maureen, the owner, has the best taste and keeps…read morereally cute things in stock. Whenever I need a little gift for someone (or myself) I know I can find it! To top it off she's really friendly, and always up for a chat. It is really nice to be able to shop local and we are lucky we have a boutique like Sweet Magnolia in the neighborhood.