By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
When one of Del Rio’s largest shopping centers put out the call looking for entrepreneurs, Edward Koslowska answered.
Koslowska, the owner and operator of Southwest Comics II, was selected by a panel of business professionals to move into the Plaza del Sol Mall and operate for a year, rent free, as part of the mall’s “Entrepreneurs Wanted” contest.
Southwest Comics II has been a part of Del Rio’s pop culture scene for two decades now, but it will celebrate its grand opening in the mall Saturday, Oct. 2, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The store is located just around the corner from Applebee’s entrance.
As part of the grand opening, Koslowska said there would be three raffles of gift certificates as well as discounts on a variety of items that he will regularly carry in the store.
“We’ve got more than a thousand Funko Pops. We’ve got Star Wars figures, pro wrestling figures, comic books, collectible trading cards and lots of pop culture items both current and a little older,” Koslowska said earlier this month. “We also have anime items, such as collectibles, books and card games, and we’ll be adding more of those as time goes on. We’ll even have shirts for sale. We hope to have 200 different ones for sale by the day we open.”
Koslowska has been operating his business since he was in college in the 1990s. His passion for collecting began with comic books, and he opened his first store in San Angelo just across from the Angelo State University campus.
“When the X-Men cards came out a bought a few and had extras, so I would go to card shows and set up. It wasn’t unusual to make about $200 or more just selling cards and comic books. I would travel to shows in Abilene and Brownwood and occasionally drive down to Laughlin Air Force Base and set up there for card shows,” Koslowska said. “After I graduated, I came back here and opened a small store in a shopping center where IBC Bank now exists.”
Koslowska also got to know the youth of the community, and what their interests were, from his 22 years as a math teacher at Southwest Texas Junior College.
The business of pop culture keeps Koslowska busy. He would travel to multiple shows every year, loading and unloading his wares at each stop. But as the costs of doing business increased, especially the cost to rent spaces at comic book conventions or shopping centers, Koslowska cut back on his travel. He’s already done seven this year, but his focus now will be on his store.
He’s already seen some business come through his doors. While setting up in mid-September, a young man and his mother came into the store after seeing Dragonball merchandise in the window display. They bought several items and before leaving, the young man said, “I’m going to tell all my friends about this!”
Koslowska said that’s what he hoped continues with all his customers.
“We’ll be doing buying, selling and trading here. I’m always looking for hard to find Pops, Spider-man comics, Wolverine comics and old Star Wars collectibles, among other things. People can always ask when they come in,” Koslowska said.
Southwest Comics II will be open Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. The store accepts a wide variety of payment including cash, credit cards, Apple Pay, CashApp and Pay Pal.
