Almost anyone who grew up in the Tacoma area has fond memories of the B&I Circus Store, a landmark on South Tacoma Way for more than 60 years, where once you could wrap your face in cotton candy while exchanging stares with a live gorilla named Ivan. Ivan is gone now, living happily at the Atlanta Zoo, and B&I has morphed into a new kind of wonder — an international marketplace where you can find fancy boots from Mexico, jewelry from India, exotic foods from Africa, rare coins from all over the world and bargains from just about everywhere.
There are more than 50 shops in the B&I and the long, winding corridors make shopping here seem like an adventure in a fun house maze. The shops come and go, so every visit is a new experience. B&I also has one of the largest video game arcades in the area.