Holy. Cow.
I…read morehappened to be searching the web for comic book shops and Big Fun came up in my search. As I was already on High Street, I decided to head further south and stop in. Big Fun is located in the Short North so parking is on the street - either in an open space or at a meter. I parked across the street and about half a block away. A beautiful day for a short stroll.
This was my first visit (and first hearing of this place). I was compelled to go because a reviewer online has stated that this place, "looked like a comic shop threw up a toy store." How could I not make the trip???
Big Fun is a shotgun-shack type of building so it is not terribly large. That said, there is enough stuff jam-packed into this store that you could fill another store alongside. Maybe two.
I have never, ever seen so much nostalgia/kitsch/collectibles/happiness in one spot. It truly was sensory overload. Every direction that I looked (with the exception of the tiny, narrow floor) had stuff displayed. Shelves, cases, racks, counters...you name it. There was even stuff hanging from the ceiling.
Before you even enter the shop there is stuff to look at in the windows. A lot of stuff. But inside? Prepare to crane your head a full 360 degrees. That's up, down, and side to side.
I visited here on a Wednesday near lunchtime and the place was hopping. Several families inside along with a staff of about 4 or 5. And me. It's narrow anyway but adding about 15-20 people in there really made for some juggling for space. To everyone's credit, we all behaved and played nicely and everyone got to see everything they wanted to.
I cannot begin to accurately catalog all that was offered, but here is a tiny sampling of items to delight: action figures, models, bumper stickers, magnets, keychains, dolls, puzzles, games, novelties - retro stuff, too, like you would have seen in the back of comic books or the old Johnson Smith catalogs, Lego body parts, candy, toys...etc., etc., etc. Prices were extremely reasonable and covered the gamut from inexpensive to collectible. A price for everyone!
This store is a visual carnival and the staff is fabulous. Chatty, friendly, very helpful.
I absolutely must return to look again because I know that I did not see everything. It's like visiting the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. You have to go multiple times in order to see it all.
This place is Big Fun, indeed.
