I was getting a little worried about the strip of shops over in Ingleside Village. It seemed like vacancies were becoming too common over there.

I was glad to see Vance Bumgardner on Thursday. He was unpacking boxes in the storefront at 2384 Ingleside Ave. Bumgardner is one of the owners of Avalon Comics and Games. He and his business partner, Robert Marshall, are moving the store from Northside Drive, where they’d been open for three years.

“Our lease was over, and this place was a lot cheaper,” Bumgardner said as he stocked shelves in the new location. “We couldn’t beat the price and there’s more foot traffic. Hopefully, things will pick up.”

Avalon Comics, like many businesses during the last few years, has been trying to weather a rocky economy.

“We have highs and lows. ... After Christmas is always low,” Bumgardner said, adding that the drop-off gave them the perfect opportunity to move.

“While times are bad, we can pay cheaper rent and get more people in here,” he said.

Avalon, like other comic book stores, typically sees a bump in sales when Hollywood releases a superhero blockbuster, “but that depends on how good the movie does,” Bumgardner said. “Right now, everyone is coming in to buy Green Hornet. ‘G.I. Joe’ didn’t do well, and no one came in for it.” Bumgardner said he’s introduced himself to his new neighbors, and he likes the vibe. “It seems like a friendly community,” he added. “We were in a hole on Northside (Drive). Hopefully, this new location will help us turn things around.”

Harold Goodridge is the business editor at The Telegraph. Contact him at 744-4382 or e-mail him at hgoodridge@macon.com.