SJM_PROFILE_Comics & Killers Collectibles_1123 - edit_profile 11 / 16 / 23 4 : 04 PM Page 2 PROMOTION B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T which has helped the shop attract a loyal following of hobbyists , toy collectors , pop - culture enthusiasts , comic - book aficionados , fans of the bizarre and all manner of their fellow self - described nerds . “ We cater to a really eclectic taste , ” says Yelowitz . “ We have everything from turn - of - the - century dental equipment to Pez dis - pensers to plushies and Funkos , we have a coffin filled with VHS tapes , and I’m standing here looking at [ Beverly Hills ] 90210 dolls — we have about anything you can imagine , just a metric ton of stuff . ” To help cultivate the widest and weirdest selection possible , the two collaborate with other businesses in their orbit , like Heroes in Burlington Township , Ron’s Comic World in Lumberton or Rancocas Woods ’ Second Time Books ; additionally , they bring a number of their wares to the outdoor Columbus Mart flea market every Sunday . It’s all helped to authentically create a vast network of like - minded folks who not only share their passion but also want to help other collectors hunt down that item they’ve spent years looking for . “ There’s at least one person a day that comes in and says , ‘ I have never seen this before ’ or ‘ I haven’t seen this in forever ’ or ‘ Oh my God , that’s amazing , ’ and it makes my day every time , ” Yelowitz affirms . “ And if we don’t have it , we both have outlets and connec - tions so we can get it for you . ” While the couple is thrilled whenever anyone takes in their store’s wall - to - wall treasures with childlike awe and enthusiasm , it’s con - necting with youngsters that truly makes their day . “ I can’t even count how many times kids have walked up and their parent says , ‘ No , you had a budget for today , ’ and I ask , ‘ Which one did you really , really want ? ’ — and then they could have it , ” says Shine . It’s All Geek “ Theyget so excited . I love that so much , it’s everything to me . ” Their dedication to budding pop - culture enthusiasts extends to regular giveaways , like offering free comic books or Pokémon cards on Fridays to reward children who’ve been on their best behavior all week . to Them Yelowitz and Shine also support their neighbors of all ages through the likes of Toys for Tots , breast cancer walks and autism awareness events . As they’re frequent fixtures at shows and con - Thecouple behind Comics & Killers ventionslike Monster Mania and the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market , Collectibles is creating a place where Yelowitzadds that the couple has turned those events into further community - minded opportunities , raffling off toys and gaming sys - nerds , collectors and lovers of oddities temsand then “ donating all that money to any charity we can . ” Those efforts have all contributed to both shared and individual arewelcome and can find that elusive honors , with South Jersey Magazine including Shine and Yelowitz item they’ve been searching for , no among its annual Leading Ladies and Leading Men highlights , as well as naming Comics & Killers as 2023 ’ s Best of the Best for the Col - matter their niche interests . lectiblescategory . by MADELEINE MACCAR And while accolades are always appreci - ated , the real rewards are much more humble than that . hen Eric Yelowitz and Gabrielle Shine started what “ We’renot in it for the recognition : We would become Comics & Killers Collectibles from justdo it because we love giving back , ” Wtheir home during the height of the pandemic , saysShine . they had no idea that a community cornerstone “ I love when people come in and would grow from their combined and ardent love of they just sit with me and talk , I love all things nerd . talkingabout their collections and what “ Beingthe massive nerds that we are , we had 30 - they’reinto , ” Yelowitz adds . “ It’s all about plusyears ’ worth of [ stuff ] between the two of us , plus n building a rapport with people . ” 50years from the rest of my family , and , like , another 75 from my uncle’s family , ” Yelowitz recalls . “ It was in four storage units across two states , plus our house and my dad’s house , and we just started selling it all from our basement . ” Yelowitz credits his “ lovely better half ” for realizing the business Comics & Killers Collectibles potentialof what began as a way to offset the pandemic’s aftermath of reduced hours and eventual layoff from his previous 9 - to - 5 gig . The Hainesport | Columbus Mart , Spot E40 on Sundays two bring their own unique assets to Comics & Killers Collectibles , ( 856 ) 393 - 3653 SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 20 issue 8 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 39