Oak Leaf Comics & Collectibles

History

History; Oak Leaf Collectibles

Oak Leaf started in the house we lived in. Frank “Pat” Tickal did Stamps for collectors upstairs in the den and Mike Tickal did comics for collectors in the basement. The reasons Frank did this are lost to history other than a way to make extra money for his family. He also really enjoyed the hobby. Mike started into comics retailing because he became frustrated at being unable to get consistent month to month continuity on comic titles from the local drug store. Every title he wanted to get did NOT come every month! Mike contacted a distributor and asked if he could order comics from them. They said, “sure”! The business grew from there.

After a time, the growth came to a point where a larger space was needed. Oak Leaf Stamps & Comics moved to an upstairs office in the old Shopper building at 10^th and North Federal. Gaming was added to the lineup and Oak Leaf continued to grow! More and more customers, more and more inventory. After a couple of years we decided it was time to move again!

Oak Leaf Collectibles rented a little alley space, at 19 North Commercial Alley, Mason City, and moved in! Now carrying new comics, back issues, vintage postcards for collectors, paperback books for readers, Sports cards, stamps for collectors, and collecting supplies. When a fire broke out in the front half of the building, causing a flood of water to come through the alley shop from the firemen’s putting the blaze out, we were forced to relocate.

Oak Leaf was moved to 23 5th Street, SW. Starting with ¼ of the building, then a few years later, ½ the building. Expanding our lineup into Barbie dolls, toys, Pop culture items (Elvis, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, Betty Boop, Wizard of Oz, and more), and Ertl Farm Tractors, growth continued. Somewhere in the early 90’s Oak Leaf took over the entire building! Things were booming.

Doing 2-3 trade shows, comic conventions, and flea markets a month, literally all across the country, Florida to New York, to Seattle, to San Diego, we were on the road a lot! Oak Leaf now employed several people as retail sales clerks, order processors, and shippers! A web site where people could order dolls and toys and more from us was created! We came up with the name dustcatchers, for all the things in your house, you collected, collecting dust. www.dustcatchers.com

Then it all came crashing down. The internet came along. Instead of going to a doll show to buy dolls, or comic conventions, anyone could go online to order. Sales at shows and conventions disappeared! Then, so did most of the shows! Oak Leaf Collectibles consolidated. We overcame and adapted. Things were looking up again and starting to turn around nicely when 2008 came along. Mason City flooded, and a major recession all in the same year! The store went 2 ½ feet under water. Oak Leaf was closed for 4 months for remodeling.

The current building, at 221 North Federal, was purchased in 2011. Mike spent 6 months remodeling the building for Oak Leaf Comics and Collectibles to move in to. Doubling the size of the floor space, adding lots of new shelving, display cases, and inventory, we started having events for customers! A 1000 square foot game room for gamers to use to play games in was opened. October 2022 marked our 45th anniversary. On the first Saturday in May we have a mini 1 day comicon in the downtown area, taking over the street between 2nd and 3rd on North Federal! There are inflatables for the kids to play on, costumed heroes, and Star Wars characters on site for photo ops! We have had The Iowa Ghostbusters in attendance with an Ecto car, A Jurassic Park Jeep, A Scooby Do Mystery Machine, and other TV Movie cars attend! Sales specials throughout the store! Oak Leaf Comics and Collectibles also donates a portion of all sales for the day to the North Iowa Youth Center and the Humane Society of North Iowa.