FRUITPORT TWP, MI – A longstanding comics and collectibles store is expanding in hopes of drawing more people and more businesses to The Lakes Mall.
Lange’s Comics and Collectibles is busy moving inventory from its three storefronts inside the mall’s main drag into the former Bed Bath and Beyond section with plans to reopen Saturday, March 1.
The move into the 27,000-square-foot space will make Lange’s the largest comics and collectibles store in Michigan and the second largest in the U.S. after Mile High Comics in Denver, Colo., co-owner Todd Lange said.
There’s much more to Lange’s besides comics. Todd Lange manages the “primary nerd section,” including comics, plush toys, Lego sets, Funko figurines and Godzilla merchandise. His business partner Scott Peters is in charge of Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards and plans to open a separate room in the store for card games and similar events.
The third member of the group, Harrison Lange, plans to move his record and DVD inventory into the new space and create a retro-themed video store reminiscent of Blockbuster Video.
The merger of the three business aspects under one roof is a dream-come-true for Todd Lange, who opened his first 800-square-foot store in 1988 in Grand Haven.
“I’ve always wanted to do a mega store, kind of a like Meijer, where between selection and price we have the best stuff on the planet,” he said, boasting Lange’s has better prices than 90% of similar stores and online shops.
The struggling Lakes Mall, 5600 Harvey St., has seen several businesses come and go over the years. Bed Bath & Beyond went the way of many big-box chains and closed in 2023 after the company filed for bankruptcy.
“Malls are struggling, frankly, because the corporate model has failed,” Lange said. “And it will continue to fail, but I think the opportunity for small businesses like us has changed.”
Lange’s Comics, meanwhile, has spent 10 of its 40 years in business inside the mall and is only growing, leading one commenter on Facebook to suggest the Lakes Mall be renamed to “the Lange’s Mall.”
About 15 years ago, comics shops like Lange’s would be charged $30-$40 per square foot, and the stigma of “geek culture” made it hard for landlords to take them seriously, Lange said.
But now, properties like Marvel Comics and Star Wars have gone mainstream, causing a surge in demand for merchandise and making it easier for businesses to rent space.
Lange did not specify how much the mall charges the comic store in rent now but said it’s not as much as it would have been 10 years ago.
The Lakes Mall has said it cannot comment on tenant information.
Another big change malls are grappling with is that people don’t go to the mall just to hang out anymore, Lange said.
By creating the largest comics and collectibles store in the state, Lange and his partners hope to be a unique attraction that draws customers from everywhere to the Lakes Mall.
“Muskegon is not Grand Rapids, it’s not Lansing, so you have to convince people to travel,” he said.
Lange attributed his business’ long-term success to its partnership with the Lakes Mall and encouraged other small businesses to contact the mall for leasing opportunities.
“I’m 60 years old. I could easily retire, go off into the sunset and watch Looney Tunes all day,” he said. “But I’m doing something that hasn’t been done in West Michigan in a long time, because of many factors, but one of which is the cooperation of the Lakes Mall.”
Lange’s Comics will be about 85% stocked on opening day. When the rest of the inventory is moved into the new location around April, the store plans to host events such as movie showings that can further enhance the shopping experience.
“It will be like nothing geek-wise that you will ever see,” Lange said.
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