The Torrance shop was FAR superior than the SM 
shop.  The SM shop was hard to get to, in a busy 
location, and totally dinky.  The Torrance shop 
was large and in an easy-to-find, laid back 
location.  I loved Mitsuwa market and going there 
to get some ramen and anime goodies.  Also, I 
wasn't impressed with the people working at the 
SM store.  They were a little too "otaku" and 
trying to impress for my taste.  

I'm guessing the high rent did the SM store in.  
It will be really sad to see Mandarake go after 
all this time.  But unfortunately, after the 
Torrance store closed, I didn't see a point in 
going because it was too much of a pain in the 
butt. I didn't even know the Animate store 
closed. I guess we're back to having no good 
anime stores in the area *sigh*. I wish they 
would put these stores in Japanese areas and not 
super trendy areas.  I think they would do 
better. 


(How much of a pain? I was willing to drive to 
Torrance from the Valley, but not to Santa 
Monica) 

My big question is: will they have a big sale?!?!