Fantasy Books and Games

Decades-old downtown Livermore comic and game shop on First Street, crammed with Magic, Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, back-issue comics and Funko Pops.

Walk down First Street in downtown Livermore and Fantasy Books and Games is hard to miss once you are inside: the shop is a narrow, floor-to-ceiling maze of comics, manga, toys, games and trading cards. Its owner has spent more than 45 years building the store, and it has become a fixture for collectors across Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin and beyond.

For card players, the draw is volume. The shop stocks Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! in quantities that can be overwhelming on a first visit, alongside graphic novels, mystery-box figures and board games. Anyone hunting trading cards in Livermore should budget time to browse, because the narrow aisles reward patience.

Comics remain the heart of the store. New releases arrive weekly, the back-issue section is being expanded, and the shop actively buys older comics and toys. It also takes part in Free Comic Book Day each May, which turns the block into a busy event. The Funko Pop selection is famously large, filling a good share of the shop on its own.

The store's character comes from its long history. This is not a sleek, newly built card shop but a long-running independent where the inventory has grown layer by layer over decades. Collectors who enjoy digging for an older comic run, an obscure figure or a sealed pack from a past set will find the hunt part of the fun. The shop also maintains an email list for sale announcements, which is the easiest way to hear about markdown events before they happen. Parents bringing kids for their first Pokemon packs will find plenty of affordable options alongside the higher-end collectibles.

The space is small and fully packed, so weekday afternoons are the most comfortable time to visit. Hours are 11AM-6PM on Monday, Tuesday and Sunday, and 11AM-7PM Wednesday through Saturday. The shop is at 2247 First St in the heart of downtown along the downtown restaurant strip, with street and public lot parking nearby.