The secret is officially out. The McFarlane Companies have been in the planning and building stages of a new Arizona-based showroom for nearly two years. Well, the process is complete and it's time to throw open the doors.

The showroom will serve various functions: a retail operation, a museum of sorts and an ever-evolving centerpiece of our operation. It also houses a gallery area that will be periodically updated.

Walking through the front door is like entering another world. Plasma TVs show McFarlane-related materials on the walls. You're surrounded by custom-built sets showcasing the two-up prototypes of our latest figures, including sports, Spawn, horror, music and film figures, and more. The walls are decorated with memorabilia including some of Todd's personal collection. There will be a retail operation and kiosks where collectors can purchase both newly released and older items still in warehouse inventory.

The grand-opening event for the showroom is slated for Saturday, Oct. 16 and is sure to be a fun-filled day complete with signings and other special happenings. In the meantime, the doors will actually open for the first time on Monday, July 26. The décor is fully in place and we have several different Spawn, horror and sports-related lines (most current retail releases) available for sale.

The new McFarlane Showroom is located at 8945 S. Harl, Suite 112, Tempe, AZ 85284, just one block east of the I-10 freeway. Tentative hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm. We'll have more specific information on the grand-opening event as we get closer to October.