One coffee shop is serving diversity to the comic book scene.

Philadelphia’s Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse is the first black-woman owned coffee shop on the East Coast.

“I got the idea for the shop about 12 years ago, when I was still attending Temple University,” Ariell R. Johnson, the owner, told Philadelphia Daily News. “My favorite coffee shop was directly across the street from my comic book store of choice. So, each Friday, I would buy my books at Fat Jack’s, go across the street to Crimson Moon, and read everything I bought.”

Not only has she built a business that’s the one-stop shop of her dreams. She’s also building a space that doesn’t treat diversity like an afterthought.

“We will be a legit store, so expect to see the heavy hitters that we all know and love,” she said. “But in addition to those usual suspects, we want to showcase diverse comics, creators, and characters. We think that comics are for everyone and anyone that loves comics–women, people of color, and the LGBTQ community.”

For more information, check out the shop on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Photo credit: Facebook/.Amlgam Comics