I'm about to get vulnerable here. If you're not about the Fe-fe's this evening, scroll on cuz I'm about to get ALL UP IN THE FEELS.

The last year has been a slog for us- both personally and professionally. By November of last year, we HATED the mall. Loved our Mall Peeps (The Mitchell Family, Bill, Eric, Sam, Spencer's Crew of yesteryear) But the situation was untenable.People were coming into the store to scream at me about promoting items that were in my lease to sell, there were threats of court action flying around like seagulls at the beach and A week before Christmas, the leak in the store's ceiling opened up for the THIRD time, and lost us about $2,500 at retail in stock, because we'd been told that it was really fixed this time, and had started utilizing that part of the store again. 

You can ask my Parents- I SUCK at asking for help. I have been homeless for the simple reason that I didn’t ask for help- determined to do things by myself. I’m also the kind of person who, if I can help someone out, I will. Even to my own detriment.

We had to move and we knew it. We launched a fundraiser, and a few of you turned out in a HUGE way- unexpected ways. Spicy Staples, Three Crafty Devils, Pendragon Creates, Bethany Genereaux, Fennec Meadows to name a few. 

But! we couldn’t find a spot that wasn’t either too close to a similar shop or OUTRAGEOUSLY overpriced. We dealt with a lot more shit at the mall including some VERY scary instances involving firearms- In May, we were seriously considering closing our doors for good- and we told you, Our Awesome community, as much. YOU CAME OUT IN DROVES- Not just to support the store, but also to support us as people (special thanks to Sam Camino here) Never, in the history of retail has a small business owner uttered “June was our best month this year outside of the holidays” but Ya’ll made it true. 

In June, Thanks to Niki Morto, Bethany Genereaux & Grayling Cunningham, we found our new location at 291 Lisbon Street, the former home of The Studio. Thanks to ya’ll, and the above named folks, showing the love, we were able to pay to move in for July 1st- Even better, we were open for the second Art Walk of the 2025 season on June 27th- Thanks to the AMAZING help we received from Zach Williams, Andy Williams, David Olcott, Emily Chavis, The Entire Reyes Family (including the dog!), Fennec Meadows, Critter Fornier, Kiana Kelley, Jared Scippione, Paul Rawson, Andrew Ramsdell, and our children, Layne & HB- We closed on Saturday, June 21st, and reopened the following Friday, with a fully functional store. 

July is always a rough month for retail, and ours was no different. So much so that I skipped the payment on the NerdMobile because I wanted to make sure we had rent for our lovely new Landlord. And then August sucked- Our rent was only paid because Malcolm's brother-from-another, Steve Bourret, helped us out. September rent came due, and a large purchase of Art from Hannah Deem closed the gap- with Hannah knowing full well what she was doing. 

The bulk of fair season sucked… And then, after Our Go big or go home post last week, things started turning around. The City of Lewiston reached out to see how they could help. Multiple long-time nerdcore patrons & vendors offered to help run the store, or run events (Looking at You, Beck Showalter, Raychel Ward, Andy Williams, Andrew Ramsdell, Zach Williams) and this week, our sales are… NORMAL!? Like BEFORE THE MOVE!? WHAT!

    With things finally looking like they’re turning around, most of our personal AND store bills reaching current between Malcolm’s new night job and the store’s sales getting back on track, Malcolm and I were finally feeling some hope that we will pull through. 

And then I had a sudden and unexpected loss in my family a week ago. And an unexpected bill hit last night. Emergent- cannot be put off. One of those bills that HAS TO be paid or the whole house of cards crashes down around your ears- and we had no idea how we were going to bridge the gap. 

     I called my Dad. Malcolm vented on his personal facebook.

Malcolm:

“Started feeling like things were starting to turn around and got sucker punched again.

If anyone happens to find about $1000 dollars they don't need for a while that would be cool.  Otherwise....looks like I'll be working a lot more doubles and won't be seeing home for a while.”

 and then Kristen Globensky asked for our Venmo in Malcolm’s facebook comments- I DO NOT toot my own horn, so I’m just going to quote Kristen directly:

“Honestly, you folks are such wonderful people always looking out for the community and for your people, I would suggest putting your cash tags or other payment options up - there’s no shame in asking for help, especially when you and Rebecca Emmons have helped so many people.

I’m broke right now, but when I do have money I can spare and know friends need help - I’m more apt to want to send it to their payment apps because that way the crowdfunding companies don’t take a percentage.”

 Like a snowball rolling down hill, that insurmountable ENORMOUS bill that was threatening to end the whole ride… shrunk. By a Lot. We had folks sending us money via Venmo, offering to help out at the store, with the little guy- one friend told Malcolm she’d already put on pants so we HAD TO give her our home address so she could come out, hug us (REALLY GREAT HUGS TOO!?)  and hand us money (AND PIZZA) to help out. 

 Malcolm’s personal page vent went up at 5:24pm. And our Community showed up. Dan & Amy Robichaud, Caroline Wales, Hannah Deem (AGAIN!), Paul Rawson (AGAIN!), Jennawai Leighton, Kristen Globensky, Justine Weisinger, Jenn Dubois, Jeff Black, Peri Starr, Allie Nascatowicz, Andrew Cash, Michelle West, Michelle Nyren, Quincy Quirron, Shanea Kennedy, Raychel Ward, Trish Popovich, Grayling Cunningham, Chelsea Hunter, Glynn Davidson, Michael Athearn, Michelle Cunningham, Greta Espeaignette, Adam Gaffen, and Alex Adams All messaged us, Came out, venmo’d us, commented, and/or boosted. 

More Comments from that post, not because I want to toot our horn but because YOU GUYS came out for US: 

“Sent a little something. I couldn’t see this and not. You guys are too good of people to watch struggle.”

“Hang in there. Y'all are good to people and I hope that comes back to you.”

“Let me see what magic tricks I can pull off. Y’all have done more than we could ever imagine for us.”

“don’t be a turd, just take it ❤️Gotta take care of each other my dude. Sending all the love.”

“🙏💜consider it tooth fairy repayment”

“I also would like to consider it a gift as I have not yet been able to get to your store. I also have some vinyl and cds I’d love to donate to you guys, if you’d carry my bands stuff.”

“ we love you guys! You guys help everyone else out, I’m glad we can all come together to do the same for you guys too when you need it. That’s what community does for each other”

By 6:51 pm, Malcolm commented on his own post: Holy shit guys. I can't even begin to express how moved I am. I'm currently sitting in the store crying. Full on ugly tears because I don't know how to ever be grateful enough. Thank you.

    By this morning- We had everything we needed. Everything. 

Over the last 2.5 years, we have pushed the idea of community SO HARD. And in a moment where life was beginning to feel like a millstone around my neck, You guys showed ME what a community can do. No matter how things pan out in the future, We will NEVER stop being grateful for our Nerdcore Family. To quote one Venmo note: In the ‘Core, we all Fam. 

So the next time someone tells you mutual aid is bullshit, or that community is a thing of a bygone era- dead with the dinosaurs or dying with the boomers, send them my way. And I’ll tell them about the meal trains we’ve organized for folks having a hard time. And the donated goods we’ve distributed with Operation You Matter to people who have nothing or close to it. And the folks we’ve given a place to be when every other place just felt untenable or unwelcome. I’ll tell them how we did it all with Music, Art, and Dungeons & Dragons- And I’ll tell them about how when we were in one of the darkest hours in the Emmons family, the NerdCore Family showed up and showed out. 

We will never be able to adequately express our gratitude. But for everything it’s worth. Thank you. 

Love,

The Emmons Family. 

Becca, Malcolm, Layne, Pickle, Zulu, Arlo and James P. Titten, Esq.