MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – For more than 30 years, Jim Higgins has owned and operated Higgins Bingo Supplies on Washington Street in Marquette.
From bingo bags to dabbers, pull-tabs, and bingo cards, Higgins began supplying bingo supplies after watching his parents play locally and seeing a need.
“My parents worked a church bingo, a local church bingo, and my brother and I were just in elementary school, and before you know it, he is running the bingo, ordering the supplies, and the closest supplier was down in the Detroit area,” Higgins said.
Now, Higgins and his wife are set to retire. Higgins says he’s built up relationships with regular customers over the years.
“We do have a loyal fan base. I see a lot of the same people, every couple of weeks, every couple of months, maybe twice a year. I had to make a few phone calls to the ones whose number I have, and there were some sad faces,” Higgins said.
Higgins shares what the future of the business is now that he’s stepping away.
“We sold the business, business will continue, but strictly on a wholesale level. The bingo store downtown will not be here anymore, and the closing on that is coming up soon, within a week or so,” Higgins said.
Higgins says he looks forward to traveling.
“Being tied down as a business owner, I haven’t done a whole lot of traveling. We would like to see a lot of the country, go to see some of the sights that everybody else goes to, the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore,” Higgins said.
Higgins also says he’ll be enjoying time with his children and grandchildren.
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