We had a drug store that had several boxes of back issues when I was a kid, circa 1978ish. I remember they had a Green Lantern 76 with a $4 price sticker on it and I wanted it like a man wants a woman.
The first true comic shop I ever went in was Comics and Collectibles in Memphis. This was around 1987. I remember being stunned that they had full runs of every title. ASM #2 up, FF #2 up, X-Men #2 up, Avengers #2 up and these were all IN THE REGULAR INVENTORY BOXES! They had all the #1s but they were on the wall behind the counter.
I immediately left that store and drove to Memphis Comics and Records. They didn't seem to be nearly as nice and organized as CnC, but it was a nerd wet dream come true.
Good times.