Dear readers: After 13 years, I'm closing The Obscure Store

It was very tough to write that headline, but it's time for me to hit the REFRESH button and try something new.

Some of you may know that I announced on Wednesday that I'm "semi-retiring" from Poynter and launching JimRomenesko.com. Buried in the Huffington Post story about my decision is news that I'm closing the Obscure Store after next week. I'll post "best of" OS&RR stories -- some of the "hits" -- in the remaining days and let you recall your favorite ones, tell us when you discovered Obscure Store, and share any other anecdotes.

HOW THIS SITE STARTED
For nearly a decade -- starting in 1989 -- I published a print "fanzine" called Obscure Publications. Its mission was to review fanzines and profile their editors. In early 1998, I decided to start selling fanzines online through a new site called The Obscure Store. My challenge was to get "customers" to my website. I decided to do that by linking to stories that I found interesting. I had general interest articles on the top of the page and "Media Gossip" items on the bottom half. In May of 1999 I decided to create a separate site -- MediaGossip.com -- for those media stories. It was a life-changing decision: the Poynter Institute heard about Media Gossip (via this story), hired me, and let me work on my own out of coffee shops in the Chicago area -- while paying me a salary that I never thought I'd make as a journalist.

THE OBSCURE STORE EVOLUTION
Over time, Obscure Store shifted from a general-interest news site to a weird-news site. As a former police reporter (and the author of Death Log), I was always attracted to those kinds of stories. Over the years, many similar sites launched -- Fark! -- and many of my readers drifted away. Those other blogs allowed comments, while I resisted them for a long time. Readers will probably remember that I allowed comments for a while, then pulled them after the discussions got out of hand. I eventually (2005?) reinstated them, realizing that I couldn't (and shouldn't) control every word and thought on my site.

I know I have some readers who've been with me from the start, and I'd love to hear their memories of the site's evolution. (I want to hear from Obscure Store "newbies" too!) What's always amazed me is how civil the comments section has (generally) been. While there've been dustups and disagreements, it's been rare when I've had to ban someone or delete an offensive comment. (Maybe I'm just missing them!) A great community has formed and one of my biggest regrets is breaking that up. But.... that doesn't have to happen. There's the Obscure Store page on Facebook where stories can be posted and comments can continue. It's up to you (and I'd be happy to put up stories, too).

So, that's that -- the end of a long and memorable run. Thanks, readers, for being with me for the ride!

> This Q&A about Obscure Store from 1999 remains one of my favorites

Jump to the eighth page of comments.

Comments

[Char]

I am a newby I guess. Only been the last couple of yr's I think. But I love the way you did thing's. And the way you report thing's. It's alway's exciting to see what your gonna read the next time you go to your site.
It's alway's very interesting as well as hilarious sometime's. You surely will be missed. But like all good thing's, they must come to a close. Even though your reader's don't want you to go.
Thank you for your time of service and making me laugh as well as being sad sometime's to. Like now. Have a great future and take care of yourself. And God Bless you.

[LouiseBC]

This news truly breaks my heart. Obscure Store has been my go-to blog for years, my absolute favorite. And not because of the wacky stories--although those are always great--but because of the brilliant and hilarious blurbs your wrote for them. Thanks so much for creating this and keeping it going for so long.

[mydogFoster]

.....on the bright side....no more sterilizing the family dog on the picnic table at the honda place.

Thanks for the good times. I have enjoyed OS&RR very much and I am sorry to see it go.

[tu3031]

Really sorry to hear this. This was an everyday stop. Good luck and thanks for a lotta laughs.
P. S.: Who gets custody of Farmer Bob?

[Jim Romenesko]

I have a feeling that I'm in for a sterilization from Farmer Bob.

[Chris.]

Jim, I've been a lurker here for 11 or 12 years. I watched the comment section come and I watched it go. I've never been one to post much but I have really enjoyed the site. Best of luck to you and your future.

[Ron]

I've been a fan for years...Hands down my favorite website. Thanks for all you've done. You'll be missed.

[Bob Dobalina]

Thanks Jim, you made the internet fun, nobody gets the links like you do, you will be missed.

[isolate]

You will be sorely missed. I've greatly enjoyed the stories you tracked down for OS&RR over the years. I hope the new site will continue the madness.

[PoeRaven]

Very sad to hear this news. You've provided me with countless hours of entertainment over the years. I'm going to miss this drastically...Damn, Now I'll have to find something else to do at work.

[Farmer Bob and the City]

Obscure Store... sterilized.

[Sweden]

FFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[Son of Paga]

Thank you for the fun times. I will miss your site, and really appreciate all that you have done over the past few years. And, alas, I will no longer be ahead of the curve on the weird news stories. On the bright side, my projected billable hours just went up.

[Jim Romenesko]

Yes, I hope to see a slight bump up in the next U.S. productivity report!

[The Hermit]

Thanks for the memories.....

[ReginaFilangee]

Well you've finally gone and done it, Jim.....

I'm speechless. This is crappy news, but I wish you all the best. *Off to read all of today's comments from the rest of the OSRR family of regular posters.*

[Mark]

I've been coming here from the beginning. The first thing I do after being away is check out the site to see what I missed. Good luck to you, Jim, and thanks for all the fun.

[ReginaFilangee]

"Sort of like the Rolling Stones always "retiring", you too could just say it, but not really do it..."----Posted by: patty | Aug 26, 2011 12:55:07 PM

I really LOVE this idea!!!! Jim, are you listening?

At the very least, it's nice to see some familiar names come out of lurkdom on this thread. Warm fuzzies, all. I'll try to post a favorite memory or two soon, but am a bit too.....verklepmt?....at the moment.

Jim, ima gonna miss you and this place. *blows nose into tissue* It feels like losing an old friend who's moving away.

With respect, affection, and sadness,

Regina....still in shock.
(And passing the tissue box around the table.....)

[Miss Curly]

Whut?

[Miss Curly]

Whut?

[RockyMtnMac]

Dammit!

[amj]

I am so sad that this wonderful site is ending. I will miss reading all the comments from the regulars. Good luck

[RockyMtnMac]

I am really going to miss some of you. Some of you I will miss a tiny bit. I won't miss some of you at all. And hopefully some of you are in a Turkish prison... That being said, Good luck to you, Jim...and thank you for all the fun and memories :)
Find me on the OS&RR Facebook page, if you are not too scared of the evil that is Facebook! :)

[RockyMtnMac]

..Oh yeah! And we will always have... (wait for it..)

ROUTE 66 HYUNDAI SUCKS!

...to keep our memories warm.

[ReginaFilangee]

As much as I do enjoy so many of you (and others, not so much), you won't be able to even drag me kicking and screaming to FB, RMM. I'm sure many will rejoice in that, LOL.

Signed,
Regina, from my Turkish prison cell ;-)

[ReginaFilangee]

But even ROUTE 66 HYUNDA doesn't suck as much as losing OSRR.

Here....I think we could all use this....

*sets a humongous bowl of M&M's in the middle of the table*

Now, who's gonna mix up the frozen margaritas so we can go out with a drunken bang in a sugar coma? I'm buyin'!!!!

[eyemkent]

I wish I had a story. I wish I could pinpoint when I started coming here every day. My best calculations put it around 1999, but the only point I can, and came here, to make is that, since then my daily trip to the Obscure Store has been an ubiquitous part of my life; along with all the other morning ablutions, it has been no less a vital function.

Thank you, Jim. I'll keep an eye on whatever is next, because I've loved it all so far...

[Brak61]

I've only been lurking around here a couple of years but I will miss this site. It seems I'm the kiss of death, when I find something I like it soon goes away.

Well, thanks for the laughs and good luck!

[Jac Humbert]

Gone, but not forgotten...
Thanks James.
Happy times ahead to you.

[SFL]

The closing of OS&RR will leave an empty space on my Yahoo homepage :(

[KarenH]

Oh WOW Jim!

I will miss you so much. :( I am one of those veterans who has been reading Obscure Store since the very beginning in 1998. My husband and I were still on AOL dial-up when we originally bookmarked your site. :P Fun times, fun times!

I can't believe I won't get to read your site every day. It's the first place I go when I load up that browser window. I haven't missed a story since I first discovered you. :(

So many memories! So many stories! Incredibly, this one has shocked me the most. Since I don't do Facebook, I'll have to take this opportunity to tell you how much we have enjoyed your site all of these years... and how much we will mis you.

With a tear in my eye, I say goodbye to a longtime friend.

Forever a fan, KH

[C.]

This is sad.

Best luck on your new projects and your future life, Jim!

[dru]

Well, you have to do what's best for you. Thank you for providing a site that's given me a smile or a chuckle even on otherwise crummy days (and there have been a few)!

I'm thinking that now some newspapers and other websites, not naming names, won't be able to crib off you anymore.

Farewell, gentle peoples all!

[kevy]

This makes me sad. Will miss everyone. I'll miss the stories and the opinions. twerp, good luck with the pregnancy. Midtown, Happy Birthday. Rock Marine, take care of your family dog. Farmer Bob, sterilize yourself.

[kestrelmas]

Noooooooooo!

[Steve Garland]

Will miss this. Not sure how many years, but I have an email exchange dating back to July 2000. At least from then you have been a part of my personal start-up routine each morning after NPR, NYT and the Washington Post -- even ahead of my favorite sports news. In your greatest hits please include the stolen [something] series. I think it started with stolen creche figures and moved to stolen Snoopies. Go get 'em.
scg

[winkydink]

I can't blame you for wanting to move on-I just feel so empty-it's the first thing I look at in the morning-I read the stories to my husband-usually your synopses which are much funnier-I hate when something good ends. I'm sure this has been a labor or love. I wish I could post my blank stare and crestfallen expression when I read the headline.Good luck-I'll try to follow you on facebook.
(Couldn't you have waited until after the hurricane passes??!!!)

[Michael]

I've been a daily follower for years, but have posted only once or twice. The comments and articles have been great and will be missed. Thanks for the years of service to our community!

[mefunzrlowe]

lurking since about 2000 first comment read every day willmiss obscure store

[Irish Cornaire]

Ohhhh this bites,after I view newzjunky I then click on obscurestore where I have found so many stories that I have shared over the years,I will truly miss this site:O(

[Charles]

Ahhhhh.
I'll miss you.

[Gizmo]

This is a loss. Witty commentary on current events on the written page has met with time and although we go on there will be a place missing from our enlightenment.

[Becky]

I've been reading this site since I can remember...can't believe it's going to end...wow...thanks for all the great stories and lively discussions. You'll be missed!

[Luke Skywalker]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo! That's impossible!

[Dave]

Wow. Thanks for everything here, Jim, it's been great.

I can't remember how I first came across your site, but it was in my regular reading lists (in the days before usable RSS readers) along with metafilter. robotwisdom, MDN waiwait, boingboing, memepool, and a few other classic sites. I always think of this site as just a collection of weird underbelly stories - I never really got into the community here, and typically, my first comment is on your last post.

Look forward to seeing more of the serious side of Jim's work, as he's slowly morphed into a drunk-driver sex-crime trailer trash fixated hack in my head. But I know that's not the real Romenesko, and at the same time - I hugely appreciate what he's collected and curated here.

Thanks everyone! (I even started reading comments in the last year or so, so that includes YOU!)

[Dick Tater]

Jim...I salute you, sir, for allowing a variety of opinions from your readers. The daily ramblings of the enviro-weenies, libtards, dog lovers, feminists, lesbians and other deranged mental defectives was always good for a laugh. As this is my final post here, I want to caution readers to avoid women with tattoos, body piercing of any type (including the ears) and women who have hairy bungholes. And fellow readers, kill a dog today and make the world a better place. Dick Tater out.

[Chuck]

Jim,
You'll be missed, I LOVE Obscure Store, and thanks for keeping it up since before Al Gore invented the Internet! I've truly enjoyed your site, and best of luck to all your future endeavors!

Chuck

[Chuck]

Jim,

I didn't realize you were a Veteran! Welcome home brother, thank you for your service!

Chuck
USAF Desert Storm Vet

[barry]

I just wanted to drop a note of thanks for this site over the years. Being from WI, I felt a special connection to this page due to all of the WI stories.

[Jim Romenesko]

I'll use this #100 comment to thank everyone for their warm wishes, OS&RR memories and their understanding for my need (or desire) to move on in my "semi-retirement." I've been using "The Wayback Machine" to dig into Obscure Store's history, and it's been a blast! I look forward to sharing this experience this week.