Ill. (Rockford News First) – A local comic shop is giving local talent a brand-new place to shine
Top Cut Comics hosted its first community market on Sunday, filling its parking lot with art, handmade goods and the local creators behind them.
Participating artists like Bugged Out Co-Owner Haileigh Grant said the event represented a full-circle moment. Grant and her best friend first bonded over Dungeons & Dragons at Top Cut nearly a decade ago. On Sunday, the shop that built their friendship gave their art a platform to reach the public.
“I never really ever imagined I would be able to sell my art,” Bugged Out Co-Owner Leta Hughart said. “I didn’t think I would ever be in a point like that in my life.”
Top Cut staff reached out directly to invite Grant, who quickly brought her best friend Leta along to join the lineup of roughly 10 vendors. Store organizers said the outdoor market was a natural extension of the shop’s year-round mission to support the local creative scene.
“We have a lot of consignment items in our store, so local authors and artists sell their stuff in our store,” Top Cut Comics Manager Kim Salton said. “I wanted to turn that into an 815-day event.”
For many of the creators, the market was also a chance to connect with a deeply supportive community. That bond was put to the test when sudden winds sent Grant’s booth tumbling.
“Three other artists and creators around us rushed to help us and get everything sorted,” Grant said.
Other participating artists echoed that feeling of instant connection.
“I’ve never met you before, but I feel like I’ve known you my whole life because we just immediately hit it off, understand each other,” Handmade Mayhem Owner Maggie Townsend said.
Top Cut Comics says it hopes Sunday’s market is just the beginning. The store plans to bring the event back each year around “815 Day” with even more local artists and authors taking part.
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