Comic shop celebrates 6 years
ALPENA, Mich. — Local comic shop Bob’s Bullpen recently turned six years old.
Owner Bobby leFevre said he always dreamed of running a comic shop, even when while he was an artist in the comics industry. He knew it was time to fulfill that dream when Alpena’s main comic store, Wargames North, closed its doors.
leFevre bought a former gym downtown and spent months renovating the space. When he opened in late April 2015, the interior was totally transformed.
leFevre said he can hardly believe the Bullpen’s growth.
“I look back at some of the older pictures from back then. And to see the change in the store from then to now is pretty amazing because we started off with everything that I could do at the time, and just kind of grew into what we are now.”
leFevre told WBKB that he added the Bulldog restaurant and Two–Bit arcade as additional revenue sources when comics go through a bust cycle. He said that’s actually what helped keep the store going during last year’s COVID–related publishing delays.
Even now, the Bullpen continues to diversify, buying and selling used and new video games.
How will leFevre level–up next? We’ll have to wait and see.
