Mississippi Kids Hunt Vintage Toys And Comic Books For Pocket Change At These Seven Secondhand Shops
Pocket change goes a long way when the shelves are stacked with old action figures and comic books nobody has touched in years. I learned that after ducking into a plain little storefront in Mississippi to escape the heat, then walking out an hour later with a grin and a paper sack of treasures.
Secondhand shops like that one turn a cheap Saturday into a real treasure hunt for kids, and grandparents often recognize the toys from their own childhood. Here are seven spots around the state where young collectors can stretch a few dollars into a big afternoon.
1. Brat Comics And Collectibles, Tupelo, MS
Golden Age back issues share floor space with brand-new weekly subscriptions at this downtown Tupelo comic store. That range means a kid holding a few dollars and a grandparent with long memories can both find something to flip through.
What about the young shopper who cares more about toys than stories? Collectible figures, including some truly giant ones, stand among the racks, and board games round out the stock for families who want a rainy-day take-home.
Comics are generally priced with everyday readers in mind, so a small stack may fit a modest allowance.
The shop sits on East Main Street in northeast Mississippi, about an hour from Oxford and roughly 2.5 to 3 hours from Jackson. Hours run Tuesday from noon to 5 PM and Wednesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM.
Sundays and Mondays are closed, so plan a weekday or Saturday stop.
Picture a focused browse rather than an all-day expedition, since the store is built for quick, satisfying digs. The owner and staff keep the mood friendly, which helps first-time collectors feel at ease asking where a favorite character might be hiding.
Pre-owned comics and toys are sometimes bought here too, though what gets taken can depend on timing.
2. Bang Pow Toys, LLC., Pearl, MS
Bang! Pow! reads like a sound effect lifted straight off a comic panel, and the name suits a Pearl shop stacked with vintage to modern toys, comics, and collectibles.
The business is veteran owned and operated, a detail plenty of Mississippi families appreciate when deciding where a weekend dollar goes.
Pearl sits just east of Jackson in Rankin County, so most metro families can reach the US-80 storefront in about 15 to 20 minutes. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 PM, Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday from noon to 5 PM, with Mondays closed.
That Sunday afternoon window makes it an easy add-on after lunch.
Unlike a big-box toy aisle full of sealed boxes, these shelves mix figures from different decades side by side. Kids can compare a modern release with an older take on the same hero, which often turns into a mini history lesson without anyone noticing.
Worried about sticker shock? Pricing tends to run fair, and the comic and figure selection is large enough that a young collector may land something within budget.
The owner greets shoppers warmly, making it a relaxed setting for a first collecting trip.
3. Three Alarm Comics, Biloxi, MS
Long boxes packed with back issues line this family-owned shop on Lemoyne Boulevard, and flipping through them can easily fill an afternoon on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The comic selection ranks among the deepest in the region.
The stock covers vintage and modern titles alike, plus trade paperbacks for readers who prefer a whole story in one book. New issues arrive weekly, so the racks keep shifting between visits.
Statues, action figures, and original comic art give non-readers plenty to look at too, and seasoned collectors and brand-new readers browse the same bins.
Families driving from Hattiesburg can expect roughly 1.5 to 2 hours, while Jackson is about 2 to 2.5 hours away. A free on-site parking lot makes arrival simple.
Hours are specific, so plan around them: Wednesday and Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM, Thursday and Friday from 3 to 6 PM, and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM.
Why pair it with a coast day? The shop offers an indoor break from summer humidity, and the hunt for one particular issue suits curious kids and patient grandparents alike.
Set a spending limit before walking in, because the choices run deep.
4. THE CHERRY PANDA COLLECTABLES AND FLEA, Laurel, MS
A white Christmas tree hung with earrings stands in the middle of the floor, and that is only the first surprise at this family-oriented flea shop in Laurel. Everyone in the household is welcome to wander and explore.
Shelves hold a sprawling mix of comics, figurines, board games, crystals and polished stones, DVDs, stamps, cosplay pieces, and antiques. Scooters, skateboards, and bikes turn up too, which can grab a kid’s attention faster than any comic cover.
Vintage items appear across nearly every category, and prices lean kid-friendly.
What sets this stop apart from the rest of the list is trading. The owner buys and trades for store credit, so a child can bring in outgrown toys and leave with something new to them.
Most payment options are accepted, and the shop’s social page shares in-store games and fun happenings.
Laurel sits in Jones County in southeast Mississippi, around 30 to 40 minutes from Hattiesburg and about an hour from Meridian. Doors open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM, closed Sundays and Mondays.
Saturday mornings and early afternoons tend to be the busiest, so a weekday visit may feel roomier for strollers and slower-moving grandparents.
5. Finders Keepers OS, Ocean Springs, MS
Playground rules apply here: whoever spots it first gets to keep it, at least once it is paid for. The name fits a booth-style shop in Ocean Springs where antique, retro, vintage, and new items crowd together in every direction.
Collectors after comics and action figures will find several booths catering to exactly that. Booths also hold boutique pieces and oddities that rarely surface elsewhere, which keeps parents and grandparents browsing while kids hunt for heroes.
Since vendors restock on their own schedules, the mix can change from one trip to the next.
The store sits on Bienville Boulevard in Jackson County, roughly 15 to 20 minutes east of Biloxi and about 2.5 to 3 hours from Jackson. Hours are among the easiest on this list: Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.
A restroom on site is a genuine relief for families with little ones.
Timing matters on busy weekends. Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds, while Sunday mornings tend to be calmer for stroller navigation.
Staff are friendly and helpful, so asking where the collectibles booths are located can save small legs some walking.
6. OffBeat, Jackson, MS
Mississippi’s first Black-owned comic store also ranks as one of the last true record shops in the state capital. That double identity gives this downtown Jackson spot a personality no other stop on this list can match.
Crates of vinyl and CDs sit near racks of comics, manga, and graphic novels, while figures, statues, pins, and toys fill in the gaps. Kids tend to gravitate toward the comics and small collectibles.
Grandparents, meanwhile, often end up thumbing through records from their own younger years.
The shop sits on North State Street in the heart of downtown, about 1.5 to 2 hours from Hattiesburg or Meridian. The schedule covers Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 6 PM, Friday and Saturday from noon to 7 PM, and Sunday from noon to 5 PM, with Mondays closed.
Both free and paid street parking are available nearby.
Younger shoppers are welcome here, and the store is known as a good fit for kids. Free Wi-Fi helps when a teen wants to look up a character’s backstory mid-browse.
Small purchases like pins or a single comic may make an easy first souvenir, and the blend of music and art keeps the visit lively.
7. Van’s Comics, Cards & Games, Ridgeland, MS
Most shops lock up by suppertime, but this Ridgeland store keeps the lights on until 10 PM most nights and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. That schedule turns a comic run into an evening plan when summer days get too hot for anything else.
Inside, shelves carry comics, trades, manga, Pokemon cards, plushies, action figures, and general geek collectibles. Roleplaying games and miniatures cover another corner.
For kids who love cards, the selection is often the biggest draw.
Here is the twist: game tables let friends and family sit down and play right in the store, and tournaments are part of the regular lineup. A young player who picks up a few cards can try them out before heading home.
The shop sits on South Pear Orchard Road, just north of Jackson in Madison County, usually a 15 to 20 minute drive from downtown. Open hours stretch Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 10 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to midnight, and Sunday from noon to 10 PM.
Free Wi-Fi is available, and Saturday afternoons into the night tend to be busiest, so weekday mornings may suit grandparents who prefer a quieter browse.