Sports memorabilia retailer Legends of the Field has purchased BB’s Bobbles, a Wauwatosa-based bobblehead supplier.
Legends of the Field has locations in Mequon, Greenfield and Delafield and specializes in authentic sports collectibles and athlete appearances. It is majority owned by serial entrepreneur Jim Lindenberg, the former owner of Waukesha-based World Class Wire and Cable and the Milwaukee Wave, who now serves as president and chief executive officer of Legends. Last week, Legends acquired Waukesha-based Master Z’s Dart and Pool Supply to expand its offerings to billiards and table games.
BB’s Bobbles, which has one full-time and one part-time employee, is located at 10514 W. Bluemound Road. Its current location will be closed. Most of BB’s bobbleheads will be moved to Legends’ Greenfield store, and the rest will be divided among the Mequon and Delafield Legends stores and Master Z’s. The Mequon store will be reopened this month after a temporary closure during a management change, Lindenberg said.
“We have been promoting and selling bobbleheads, but this acquisition of BB’s Bobbles really strengthens our marketing, inventory, customer base and vendors in bobbleheads,” Lindenberg said in an email. “The 2,000+ bobbleheads consist mainly of sports, but covers a broad scope. This acquisition also allows us to do personalized bobbleheads for corporate gifting or personal use.”
Lindenberg has been part of an effort to open a National Bobblehead Hall of Fame Museum in Milwaukee, and is an investor in the effort. A group of collectors has been raising funds and evaluating locations, and hopes to find a downtown home for the world’s largest bobblehead collection by May. An exhibit of some of the collection will be on display at the RedLine Milwaukee from January 22 to April 30. Some of the unique and special bobbleheads from BB’s will be used in the museum.
