Records n' Comics

On Miracle Mile, Gables Records n Comics is providing a wide array fo music, comics and collectibles curated by two high school teachers

BY CRISTEL CANTARERO, STAFF WRITER

With comics from the 1970s to a signed record of rap artist Eminem, Gables Records n Comics is the perfect place for people who feel they were born in the wrong decade. The store — located on 277 Miracle Mile — is the place for anyone who appreciates comics, music and more.

While approaching the store, customers are immediately greeted by a staircase decorated with vintage stickers from music artists and iconic comic characters like Harley Quinn. The passageway acts as a makeshift time machine as people immediately acknowledge the intergenerational ambiance. To the right, customers are placed into the Marvel, DC Comics and Star Wars worlds all at once. There are Star Wars and superhero action figures and comic-related items starting at $1.99, while records from various cultures can be found to the front for as low as $8.

Gables Records n Comics has been in Coral Gables since 2012, when owners Johanna Garcia and Waldo Rodriguez decided to bring their shared love for comic books to life. They originally only sold comic books at this location and records at a second location, but now both product lines are sold exclusively together.

Both Garcia and Rodriguez are high school teachers — Garcia teaches French at the school and Waldo at Miami Senior High School — which is convenient for students given the owners have similar work hours. They are open Monday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Their experience as high school teachers helps them find items for the store that teenagers will enjoy and establish a better connection with customers.

“My personal favorite part [in the store] would be the Japanese anime,” Garcia said.

The music collection at Gables Records n Comics is always changing. The owners are continuously collecting new items to the point where customers come in all the time ready to buy the newest collections of vintage and modern records.

“I love that store, it’s like my favorite little corner of Coral Gables,” sophomore Nicole Gufford said. “I bought several signed posters and I bring all my friends there whenever I can.”

Posters of icons in entertainment history border all of the walls. Pins are scattered on the walls with many different characters and phrases starting at $2.99. For any Star Wars lover, Gables Records n Comics has signed posters, collectable action figures and even bobbleheads from the movies. For K-Pop fans, the store sells stickers that are five for $0.99 along with CD’s, keychains, lanyards and pins.

“We get a variety of ages here at the store, one time I had a 70-year-old man come into the store looking for music,” Rodriguez said.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gables Records n Comics has implemented some safety regulations to ensure customers can enjoy their time at the store while still being safe. These rules include required masks, putting on hand sanitizer before touching anything and no more than three people inside at a time.

For an exclusive look at the store and merchandise, the owners post to their Instagram page @gablesrecordsncomics to better connect with their audience. h

VAST COLLECTION: Owners Johanna Garcia and Waldo Rodriguez proudly display just a portion of the wide array of comics avaliable at Gables Records n Comics.

Cristel Cantarero / highlights