THE OPPORTUNITY
An Investment in Comics, Coffee & Community
TENANT-READY AT LIBERTY STATION · SAN DIEGO'S #1 RETAIL DESTINATION BY VISITS (PLACER.AI)
WHY NOW
Third Place is lease-ready at Liberty Station, Suite 103 (~2,093 SF) — a mission-aligned rate from the NTC Foundation, with an existing sublease tenant already offsetting rent.
THE ASK
$50,000–$75,000 as an equity stake in Third Place Co. Terms and percentage to be finalized with our legal & strategy co-founder, Shanna Moore.
Funds a modular, no-major-renovation build-out — comics retail first, tiered coffee program, opening inventory — with minimal structural buildout risk.
WHY THIS BET WORKS
- Modeled on real Year 1 operator data, calibrated to Liberty Station traffic
- SDCC-week revenue multiplier from Convention Center proximity + Mark Doyle's publisher relationships
- Right-sized launch: lean and profitable over large and precarious
- Nonprofit education studio secures mission-aligned landlord support
USE OF FUNDS — ILLUSTRATIVE
| Fixtures & modular shelving | $15,000–20,000 |
| Opening comics inventory & back issues | $18,000–22,000 |
| Tiered coffee program (self-serve / bean-to-cup) | $6,000–8,000 |
| POS & inventory systems | $3,000–5,000 |
| Signage & branding | $3,000–5,000 |
| Opening working capital reserve | $6,000–10,000 |
THE TEAM
Jerry Ballas, MD
Co-founder & CEO
Mark Doyle
Co-founder & Studio Director
Shanna Moore, JD LLM
Co-founder & Legal/Strategy
NEXT STEP
Interested in learning more, including full financial projections, lease terms, and cap table? Leave your info below and we'll follow up directly.
“Comics are the original participatory art form — you complete the
story between the panels. Third Place is where San Diego comes to complete
that story together.”
Target Opening: 2027 · This page is not an offer to sell securities · 3rdPlaceCo.com