Wizzywig Collectibles

I really miss the downtown Ann Arbor location. It was such a big store and visiting was something my husband and I looked forward to when going to A2. Now we haven’t been there in ages mostly because of their odd hours, and the last time we did go they were much smaller and it seems the prices are still quite high. I love to have this kind of store around, and I know times are tough. I just miss the former glory of what this store used to be.

I do miss their old downtown location… it was much, much larger and better hours… however I am glad Wizzywig is still hanging tough. It i soutside of downtown near an airport now… in an industiral looking area. They are now selling discounted household items like detergent… wierd and that is the sign you see in the window.
I think they are focusing on cons (conventions) vs. retail. This is a great shop for Animé, Kawaii, Sanrio, J-​Pop fans… extremely cute figurines, stationary, Japanese Vending Machines and Japanese snacks and cadies. I adore how Japanese love making cola and grape candies. I even found my beloved hard sour gummy shegkix! And trust me I went to at least 6 Asian Markets in Ann arbor and Ypsi searching… not to mention Novi, Troy, West Bloomfield, Clawson, San Fran, and LA. No one had what I was looking for.
The girl working the shop was super interesting to talk to. She collects fully jointed ball joint dolls… they are very expensive fully posable and customizable dolls (google it). When she told me about them I thought she was maybe talking about those um «love dolls» you see on late night HBO specials… but she ran into the back room and whipped out a pretty sweet doll with lavendar hair… very elboroate… she is big into going to cons, meeting other doll collectors, doing group orders… I was amazed. Not my thing-​however the culture of the «con-​People» (my own name) is pretty facinating.
I also follwed her recommendation and tried a super yummy candy Puccho Ball Cola candy… A hard candy that is super sour and fizzes with carbonination like zotz and the inside is filled with a cola gummy! Yummmmm!!! She could also talk on and on about video games… also, not my thing. If you want to try Japanese Cheetos or Japanese KitKats like green tea… crazy gummies, Raume candies, Raume drinks, Japanese energy drinks (wonder how that pairs with vodka)…this is a solid place. So happy they had my candy!!!

Wow… It’s about all I can say. I would love this place, if it weren’t incredibly over priced… If it were priced at all. The strange girl working there somehow had all the prices supposedly memorized and when asked would guess something high. I didn’t want to buy anything not priced. I felt like she was making it all up. Not only that, she continued to tell me the prices were normal. I buy stuff from Japan a lot, whether it’s being shipped to me personally or from other Japanese stores (mainly Chicago).
Yes they have all the items listed below from fellow Unilocalers, but that is what’s expected from a Japanese style store. However, if you are a animé, manga or Japanese novelty collector… The selection is not that impressive. There is no manga or animé. It is mostly over priced toys of sanrio, pokemon and nintendo (which to me is generic stuff you can get at a Hot Topic).
If you really looking from some kawaii stuff go to Kawaii or other shops in Chicago. (Kawaii’s prices are about half the price of Wizzywig, plus they have items for kitchen and bath)

I love Wizzywig! It’s a fun, funky little shop full of interesting ideas for stocking stuffers and gifts for the eccentrics on your gift list.
They have an interesting collection of candy and sweets here, too, from Pocky to Pop Rocks.

We love this place. We live in Denver and when we make the trek home to Michigan this is always on the destination list. They have the coolest coolest stuff EVER!
They sell toys, japanese kitsch, stationary, t-​shirts, snacks, candy, movies, sanrio, blind boxes, everything I want to buy. I could spend ALL my money here and still want more.

Wizzy Wig sells anything and everything related to Animé and similar Japanese geek-​chic.
They have a massive selection of toys (Gundam anyone?) — anything from models, to keychains, to the new lines of hip collectibles put out by Kid Robot and Strange Co. Beyond that, they have a large selection of Sanrio, tons of wearables, stationery, Animé DVDs, Japanese music, and my favorite, Pocky. Actually, I’ve never seen this much Pocky in one place — they even beat out Noble Fish!
There’s some really great stuff here you just won’t find anywhere else. I once picked up a carrying case for an old school Famicom handheld for $ 2.50. It ended up being the perfect size for carrying and Ipod!
If Middle Earth were to ever fail me as a one-​stop shop for buying gifts, Wizzy Wig would be my next choice. And for those people on your shopping list more receptive to video game culture or animé, then this would certainly be the first choice.