Kyle Billings’ store already has enough room for his whoopee cushions, monster makeup and a full-sized Chewbacca costume.

And while it’s about to get bigger, he promises it won’t come close to growing up.

Fun and Games, Billings’ costume-and-novelty shop that has been a fixture in downtown Lawrence for more than a quarter century, is about to move to a new location.

“We have a lot of plans for the extra space,” said Billings, who is moving his shop from 816 Mass. to the top floor of the Lawrence Antique Mall down the street, at 830 Mass. “We can do party rooms, maybe, for kids. For birthday parties, stuff like that. If we need to, we can have somebody come in and do a clinic on theatrical makeup. We’ll have room for that. We can bring magicians in. We’ll have the space.”

The move — set to be complete by June 4 — is one of many in the works downtown, the self-described “heart of the city” and home for many restaurants, entertainment venues, professional offices and other ventures.

Among the other changes:

• Ace Sports & Tickets, 647 Mass., is leaving for a yet-to-be-determined location along 23rd Street, said owner Hal Wagner, who has another shop at Oak Park Mall in Overland Park. He expects the move to provide better parking to help people coming in from Johnson County and elsewhere in Lawrence. “We’re definitely going to be reopening for football season,” he said.


Brienne Billings, 6, celebrates winning a game of Connect Four against her father, Kyle Billings, owner of Fun and Games. The store -- which sells games, costumes and gag items -- is moving from 816 Mass. to the upper floor of the Lawrence Antique Mall, 830 Mass. Billings expects the move to be complete by June 4.

• Mojo’s, a restaurant known for its wings, sandwiches and drinks, recently closed at 714 Vt. The building is for lease.
• Boheme, a shop offering women’s clothing, jewelry and accessories, just opened at 822 Mass., the former home of Natural Way. Owner Deanna Ricketts, a former manager of a Natural Way store in the Kansas City area, is expanding the concept she founded three years ago in Parkville, Mo.
• The former home of Roly Poly Sandwiches, at 818 Mass., could become a Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Shoppe. Or not, said Charlie Kritos, whose family owns the building. “They’re looking for a place downtown,” Kritos said, but noted that a lease had not yet been signed.
• Salon di Marco and Day Spa, 733 Mass., is expanding into the space next door at 735 Mass., which formerly had been occupied by Soap Momma, which recently closed.

6News video: Fun and Games will move to a new space

Other spaces are moving closer to landing tenants, and that’s good for downtown, said George Paley, who owns eight downtown buildings, including the one that is home to Salon di Marco.

“We’re getting good businesses,” he said.