Now It Can Be Told

The "Comics & Coins" shop in the Mall where Mermsy bargains with the owner is based on a real place.  "Treasure Island," in the shopping center across the street from my High School, sold coins, stamps, and other collectibles.  My friend and I would go there and dig through the shelves of comics for back issues of X-Men.  (The real owner charged very reasonable prices, I hasten to add.)