Comic book, board game store to open June 30

Josh Horvat compares loading cases of Magic the Gathering singles at his new shop to Christmas morning.

Horvat, who will open Legacy Comics & Games Saturday, June 30 in Oak Park Mall, said he hopes his enthusiasm attracts other area gamers and makes the shop a place where serious players of everything from Magic the Gathering to Yu-Gi-Oh! can connect and organize tournaments.

Horvat, originally from Austin, already gave the shop a trial run — opening it up for a few hours this weekend — but is preparing for a grand opening on the last day of June.

Horvat said the comic and game shop — opening in the former home of Cost Cutters near Shopko — will be like a community center for game enthusiasts, and he will tailor tournaments to meet players’ needs. He said he will have a bulletin board where players can mark their favorite games, and when he has enough interest, Legacy will host tournaments.

“We’re really trying to assess our customer base,” he said. “The goal is for anyone to walk in and play a game they want and walk out happy.”

Horvat will offer anime, specialized board games such as Urban Sprawl and Dominion and Zombies!!!, and expansion packs for games like Settlers of Catan. The shop will also feature new, old and rare comic books — run at first by Horvat’s stepfather, Didicus Guzman — and they will also provide free Wi-Fi Internet and refreshments.

“We just want to provide a place to come for anyone craving this sort of atmosphere,” Horvat said.