Beloved San Francisco Comic Book Store Silver Sprocket Closes After Nearly a Decade

Owner Avi Ehrlich cites rising rents, reduced foot traffic, and pandemic-era challenges as reasons for the indie publisher's storefront shutdown

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:09pm by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Silver Sprocket, a treasured indie comic book publisher and retailer in San Francisco's Mission District, is closing its storefront on Valencia Street after nearly a decade in business. Owner Avi Ehrlich announced the closure in an Instagram post, citing an "unfortunate reality" of the store losing money each month despite efforts to cut costs and boost membership. The closure leaves four employees out of work and forces Silver Sprocket to pivot to a pop-up model, focusing on its publishing business while maintaining an online presence.

Why it matters

Silver Sprocket was a beloved hub for the Bay Area's queer, punk, and political storytelling communities, hosting events, readings, and drawing nights. Its closure reflects the ongoing challenges facing independent retailers in San Francisco's Mission District, where rising rents and reduced foot traffic have forced many longtime businesses to shut down.

The details

Silver Sprocket had been breaking even until around 2023, but the store was not immune to the difficulties plaguing the Mission retail corridor, one of the most expensive in the city. Reduced foot traffic, fewer tourists, and lower sales, combined with the store's already razor-thin margins, made it "impossible for the retail store to sustain itself," according to Ehrlich.

  • Silver Sprocket opened its Valencia Street storefront around 2020, after previously operating out of two locations on Haight Street.
  • In 2025, Silver Sprocket laid off employees amid mounting debt and other internal problems, as reported by the Comics Journal.
  • In January 2026, Silver Sprocket announced a new distribution deal with Publishers Group West after its previous distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors, filed for bankruptcy and shut down its California warehouse.
  • Silver Sprocket's last day of business at its Valencia Street location is Monday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Silver Sprocket

A treasured indie comic book publisher and retailer in San Francisco's Mission District, known for its focus on queer, punk, and political storytelling.

Avi Ehrlich

The owner and publisher of Silver Sprocket, who announced the store's closure in an Instagram post.

Josh PM Frees

The longtime manager of Silver Sprocket, who is among the four employees left without work after the store's closure.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The unfortunate reality is that even with the positive response to our membership drive, difficult staff cuts, and every other action we could think of, the store continues to lose money each month.”

— Avi Ehrlich, Owner and Publisher, Silver Sprocket

“It was an incredibly moving experience that brought us to tears. It is a peak achievement we can hang our hats on and be proud of, as the lights go dark.”

— Avi Ehrlich, Owner and Publisher, Silver Sprocket

What’s next

Silver Sprocket plans to pivot to a pop-up model, focusing on its publishing business and maintaining an online presence, while striving to preserve its community connections through events and festivals.

The takeaway

The closure of Silver Sprocket reflects the ongoing challenges facing independent retailers in San Francisco's Mission District, where rising rents and reduced foot traffic have forced many longtime businesses to shut down. However, Silver Sprocket's legacy as a hub for the Bay Area's queer, punk, and political storytelling communities will endure, as the publisher pivots to a more sustainable model focused on its publishing work.