Ann Arbor’s Vault of Midnight continually expands its horizons beyond the world of retail, demonstrating how art, culture, and community can happen anywhere. Primarily a comic shop, the store’s schedule of free special events includes art and music shows, comic book signings and releases, custom toy shows, community-based fundraisers, and a regular schedule of board games three days a week.

According to husband-and-wife co-owners Curtis Sullivan and Elizabeth DellaRocco, who run the shop with co-owner Steve Fodale, these events contribute to the community feel that surrounds the Vault of Midnight.

Photos by Jennifer Eberbach: Elizabeth DellaRocco and Curtis Sullivan, co-owners of Vault of Midnight in Ann Arbor.

“We like to call it a clubhouse a lot,” Sullivan says. DellaRocco quickly adds, “but we’re not exclusive.” “No, come on in. The doors are wide open,” Sullivan laughs.

Vault of Midnight has hopped around to a few different locations, since its founding in 1996, before landing in its current spot on South Main Street, near the corner of Liberty. “We’ve always done kinda strange stuff,” Sullivan explains. “We’ve had bands play in front of the store. We’ve had all sorts of artists' signings and book releases, and things like that at all of the locations,” however setting up shop on Main Street has created greater opportunity for “more events and more variety,” he says.

More square footage, two levels of space, and the visibility that comes from being smack in the center of things “has allowed us to do more of everything,” DellaRocco adds.

When seeking out arts and events programming, you might not immediately think of looking at a comic shop, but Sullivan finds it to be “a totally normal mix.” For him, “Art is art, from stuffed animal art, to found art, to sculpture and painting, whatever it is. We totally consider comics to be art, that’s the thing. So, a gallery-style show with paintings, in my mind, is right at home in a comic shop,” he says.

It is not surprising that Sullivan proclaims, “Comic books are one of the greatest American art forms.”

There are no stringent guidelines that the owners follow to select their events. According to DellaRocco, “a lot of it is just based on what we are into and want to share with others. We definitely seek people out, but a lot of people get in touch with us, and say, hey we want to come to your store and do this or that.”

“It’s all over the map, but I guess the main theme is art, of whatever variety,” Sullivan surmises. “I think it’s always been that we just do what we want to do. It’s really organic. So, maybe somebody comes in with stuffed zombie penguins,” he says, referring to a recent show by local area artist Christian McKenzie. “That kind of thing just makes sense for this place. It’s a natural progression of events.”

This May, Vault of Midnight hosted a highly successful, totally packed benefit auction that raised money for the Ann Arbor Skate Park. 50 local area artists created art on skateboard decks, and the boards were auctioned off to bidders. After the benefit, the skateboards were placed on exhibit at the Ann Arbor Art Center for two weeks in June, which marked the occasion of Vault of Midnight’s very first traveling art show. DellaRocco was pleased with the Ann Arbor Art Center exhibit, but she admits that she had hoped the boards might travel to more art institutions before going home to their buyers.

Vault of Midnight’s owners admit that it is not an easy task to plan, market, and host special events on top of running a retail establishment. However, they find their efforts worthwhile, and by “doing it grassroots, and not spending a lot of money, we are able to keep our costs down.” One way they accomplish this is by using free marketing options, including a large email newsletter list and social networking sites, like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

Vault of Midnight’s events accomplish more than showing people a good time. They support the store’s philosophy of going beyond impersonal, anonymous customer service and engaging people on a deeper level. Sullivan proposes, “I think America has a mild case of xenophobia slash agoraphobia. It’s good to get out of the house more, and don’t be afraid.”

“I feel like we really know our clientele on a personal basis. They’re not just customers,” says DellaRocco.

Sullivan’s open door policy is no joke. Vault of Midnight attracts customers and event patrons of all ages, not just the stereotypical young, male comic book reader demographic. “We get a lot of different people in. We’ll have a book release, and there will be kids and families, older people, and college kids, the whole mix. Among our clientele we have a lot of 40 plus people, from doctors to scientists. It runs the whole gamut,” he explains.

Jennifer Eberbach is a free-lance writer who covers art for AnnArbor.com.