Sayonara Hibiki
Back in September, I believe, the Maritimes had it's first store open dedicated completely to anime and manga...Hibiki Anime Shop. The store was downtown, which is about a 30 minute commute from where I live, so I didn't go too often. I'd always pick up a few volumes of manga every time I did go, and even won a contest they had which earned me 4 light novels.
In March, they finally had their website up and running, where they had previously just had Twitter and Facebook. They had a new mascot done up. They started a membership account (which I am not quite sure what it involved as I had yet to get down there and join). They had asked me if I was interested in continuing to get forthcoming volumes of Terra Formars and The Seven Deadly Sins through them, as they were the first two series I picked up from them. I like supporting local, so even though they are cheaper online, I figured buying 2 series from him wouldn't break the bank.
I was actually planning on heading down this weekend to pick up my copies of The Seven Deadly Sins v07 and Terra Formars v05. Sad, it is not to be. March 31st, they made a post on their Twitter account announcing: Due to an emergency personal issue, Hibiki Anime Shop is permanently closed effective immediately.
The website? Down. The Facebook account? It reads the same as the Twitter. It would be nice if further light was shone on the situation, though we, the patrons, will probably be left in the dark. I can't help to think that it was probably that the store just wasn't paying the bills. Some thought it was an April Fools' Joke, which 1) it was a day too early for that and 2) it would be stupid to pull a prank that would lose you 1+ days of business...especially considering how many days they have had to close this winter due to storms.
So, I'm left without my copies of The Seven Deadly Sins & Terra Formars, while the Maritimes are left without their dedicated anime shop.
Though, with every cloud comes a silver lining....now I won't feel as bad about buying everything online.
In March, they finally had their website up and running, where they had previously just had Twitter and Facebook. They had a new mascot done up. They started a membership account (which I am not quite sure what it involved as I had yet to get down there and join). They had asked me if I was interested in continuing to get forthcoming volumes of Terra Formars and The Seven Deadly Sins through them, as they were the first two series I picked up from them. I like supporting local, so even though they are cheaper online, I figured buying 2 series from him wouldn't break the bank.
I was actually planning on heading down this weekend to pick up my copies of The Seven Deadly Sins v07 and Terra Formars v05. Sad, it is not to be. March 31st, they made a post on their Twitter account announcing: Due to an emergency personal issue, Hibiki Anime Shop is permanently closed effective immediately.
The website? Down. The Facebook account? It reads the same as the Twitter. It would be nice if further light was shone on the situation, though we, the patrons, will probably be left in the dark. I can't help to think that it was probably that the store just wasn't paying the bills. Some thought it was an April Fools' Joke, which 1) it was a day too early for that and 2) it would be stupid to pull a prank that would lose you 1+ days of business...especially considering how many days they have had to close this winter due to storms.
So, I'm left without my copies of The Seven Deadly Sins & Terra Formars, while the Maritimes are left without their dedicated anime shop.
Though, with every cloud comes a silver lining....now I won't feel as bad about buying everything online.