Ken Magee used to be a DEA agent tracking down drug cartels in Bogota. These days, he’s on the hunt for less dangerous prey. Magee is an avid collector of vintage Michigan sports memorabilia, with a special fondness for the artwork on old football programs. “Michigan specifically had some wonderful artwork created for their programs,” he says, adding that the 1925 Ohio State game program is “one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen.”
Magee ended his law enforcement career with a three-year stint as head of the U-M Department of Public Safety. After leaving that job last year, he decided to see if he could turn two of his passions–sports memorabilia and magic–into a vocation. In early September, he opened two stores in one: the Ann Arbor Sports Memorabilia Shop and the Ann Arbor Magic Shop, both in a lower-level space on East Liberty next to Antelope Antiques.
Born and raised in Ann Arbor and a lifelong U-M football fan, Magee started his collection with Wolverines gridiron stuff, but since then he’s branched out into other sports. These days, he’s got a pretty big collection of Detroit Tigers and Pistons stuff, too.
The magic side of the business will carry an extensive collection of magic tricks and accessories both old and new, but Magee is still stocking that part of the store and says it’s not up and running full bore yet.
As for the ex-cop himself, Magee is something of a Renaissance man: a magician, historian, athlete, and martial arts aficionado. “I try to live life to the fullest every day,” he says.
The Ann Arbor Sports Memorablilia Shop/The Ann Arbor Magic Shop, 255 E. Liberty, lower level. 222-9321 (Sports Shop), 222-9000 (Magic Shop), Tues.-Sat. 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Closed Sun. & Mon.
