Fountain City store offers something for everyone
For a little more than two years, Sci-Fi City has made a home for itself in North Knoxville, nestled in the Fountain City community at 5410 N. Broadway.
General manager Walt Ricketts wants everyone to feel welcome in the store, which features a nicely curated selection of comic books, board games, graphic novels, action figures and more.
“We’re really down to earth here,” he says. “It’s not quite as intense here as it may be at other stores.”
The Knoxville location is one of three Sci-Fi City outlets that exist nationally. (The others are in Cincinnati and Orlando.) The store caters to comic book collectors and role-playing game enthusiasts.
“I’m sure there are stores here with more comics, but we have the biggest selection of games anywhere,” Ricketts says. “Nobody anywhere has more.”
The store features comic books from Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Image Comics and more. In addition to the aforementioned items, the store carries board game accessories and apparel such as t-shirts, sweatshirts and caps. Trade paperbacks and statues of the most well-known comic book characters are available, as well.
“We have something for everyone,” says Ricketts, who has become an avid comic book collector since he began managing the store. “I collected a little bit before I started working here, but now, I collect more. Every week, we get new comics.”
Like other businesses, Sci-Fi City has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic that still is gripping the community, nation and world.
“We had to close for about two weeks,” says Ricketts. “And then we had some curbside business. Now, things are really going well since we opened back up, and people are still looking for things that they can do at home.”
Store hours for Sci-Fi City are noon to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
