United States’ Official Tintin Store Lies in The Bay Area

When I was 19 years old and trying to explain to my then-10 year old brother what I was studying at college, I said “It’s what Tintin does.” Now, not everyday of work as a journalist feels like canoeing on the Amazon River or dodging giant apes on a Scottish island. But my passion of poking into big mysteries in fantastical places was absolutely stoked as a kid by the adventures of Hergé’s curious and adventurous protagonist. It’s hard to put into words what the Belgian comic The Adventures of Tintin meant to me in small town America. Thankfully, there’s a shop in Sausalito that can get that wonder across for me.

Sausalito Ferry Co. opened in April 1980 and is under the same family ownership more than 40 years later. According to the outlet’s website, it boasts the largest collection of Tintin toys, books, and memorabilia in the United States. “Because of our special relationship with Moulinsart, maker of all things Tintin,” the website reads. “We have the largest selection of Tintin goodies online and in brick and mortar domestically.”

There’s truly a plethora of Tintin goods. All the Tintin adventures are compiled in book form, as one might expect, but there are also action figures of various sizes, statues of Tintin and the familiar characters in iconic positions, totes, keychains, posters, mugs, and a huge array of model planes and cars. The shop’s website takes the fandom further with historical Tintin blogs, a chance to sign up for “Tintin newsletter updates,” and has links to full episodes of old school Tintin cartoons.

Stunned and absolutely overwhelmed, I only bought a few postcards. One could spend hours reviewing the various statues, like the submarine from Red Rackham’s Treasure or the enormous rocket replica from Destination Moon. More than nostalgia, the store’s numerous digests are correct in stating the comics’ significance. Colonial and an organ of imperial propaganda at its worst, Tintin is a relic of nostalgia and exploration — for me, and for the shop owners of this adorable Sausalito phenomenon.

Sausalito Ferry Co. (688 Bridgeway) is open every day of the week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and until 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday.