The Zone 2

Comics, Funko Pops, and glass cases of Pokemon and TCG singles fill this Northwoods Mall shop, the Peoria outpost of a Pekin institution since 1994.

The Zone 2 brings a 30-year-old central Illinois institution to Peoria's Northwoods Mall corridor. The original Zone has anchored Pekin's comic scene since 1994; this second location at 2200 W War Memorial Dr carries the same DNA — comic books, action figures, anime merchandise, statues, and Lego minifigures — with collectible card games claiming an ever-larger share of the glass cases.

Pokemon is the headline draw on the card side. Graded slabs and high-end singles sit in the showcases alongside sealed product, and the shop also stocks Magic: The Gathering — it's a Wizards of the Coast registered store — plus playmats, sleeves, and the rest of the accessory wall. Because inventory is priced to the live market, big-ticket singles can move quickly; if you spot a key card in the case, don't plan on it being there next week.

The store doubles as an event space. D&D sessions and game tournaments run regularly, and the collectibles mix means a card hunter can bring along a comics reader or Funko collector and everyone leaves with something. Reviewers describe it as a hangout as much as a retail stop, with staff happy to talk through the cases.

Hours run 11AM to 7PM Monday through Friday, noon to 7PM Saturday, and noon to 5PM Sunday — one of the few Peoria card shop options open every day of the week. Park on the Northwoods Mall side of War Memorial and look for Unit 7; the comic racks up front give way to the card cases as you work toward the counter.