R.I.P. Neon Monster

I worked with San Francisco’s Neon Monster for the end of 2009 and a chunk of 2010. When it was good, it was really good. When it wasn’t good, it was, hmmm, well it was… water under the bridge. I still have a bunch of fond memories of the time, things like the Cave of Wonders installation for Design Miami, curating my first mini-exhibition and meeting Drusilla. I’m glad I had the experience of being part of a toy shop. It gave me unparalleled access to the toys I write about and the customers and collectors who buy them. Really I’m most grateful to Neon Monster for giving me money to do something I like. Not everyone gets to have that opportunity, and it’s not something I forget.

Nobody likes to see a neighborhood shop closing its doors, but in this particular case, I can at least offer the comforting words that while you might miss your local comic book fix, Neon Monster’s owners will be fine. The Noe Valley corner store that used to be a pharmacy and will someday be something else has already taken in its cycloptic sandwich board for the last time, but its online shop will be open through Sunday, August 14th. You can use the discount code “SAVE20” to save even more money on these gorgeous resin snails cast by Pretty in Plastic, which are already 50% off…

Another one bites the dust…