Green Brain Comics in Dearborn, Michigan, was the recipient of the annual Dave Hawksworth Memorial Comic Shop Improvement Award, which was announced at Diamond’s 2022 Retailer Summit, held on October 26-28, in conjunction with Baltimore Comic Con. The award, named for Diamond’s Outside Sales Manager, who died in 2018, comes with a $5,000 grant to be used for store improvements (see “Diamond Announces Annual Award in Memory of Dave Hawksworth”).

Green Brain co-owner Katie Merritt wrote in the application that the store is eligible for a city grant program to renovate its facade, and the award money would cover the balance. “We know our place will never be ‘done,’ as we are always striving to make things better,” she wrote in her application. “But a new facade will definitely make it feel complete.”

Here are the winners of the Best Practices Awards:

Best Community Involvement
Revenge Of, Los Angeles, CA

Best Interior Signage (tie)
Revenge Of, Los Angeles, CA
Treasure Chest Comics, Triangle, VA

Best Kids/All-Ages Section
Nirvana Comics, Knoxville, TN

Best Toys/Collectibles Section
Revenge Of, Los Angeles, CA