Newbury Comics was founded in 1978 by MIT roommates, Mike Dreese and John Brusger. With $2,000 and a comic book collection, Mike and John converted a Newbury Street studio apartment in Boston's trendy Back Bay into the second organized comic book shop in the area. In 1979, Newbury Comics began selling punk and new wave music and quickly became the region's leading specialist in alternative music. By 1982, with a second store open for business in Harvard Square, the company's revenues were being generated mostly from cutting edge music and rock-related merchandise.

Newbury Comics now spans the New England region consisting of 24 stores plus the fashion boutique Hootennany. Newbury Comics is known to be the place to shop for everything music-from the best of the underground/independent scene to major label superstars. The chain also stocks a wide variety of non-music related items such as DVD's, miscellaneous pop culture & trend products, t-shirts, Dr. Martens Shoes & Boots, posters, jewelry, cosmetics, books, magazines and more!