Ironically, on Independence Day this year, history teacher Stephen Lotts exercised his freedom to become an entrepreneur. His venture? The Secret Lair.

“It [opening on July 4th] wasn’t planned. I had a bunch of delays so I ended up opening on a Friday, [July 4, 2014]” Lotts said.

The Secret Lair is Lotts’ comic book store, located on University Boulevard beside Taste of India. The store offers a wide array of comic books and board games. Although this is his business, Lotts is still a teacher, for now.

“I thought it would be fun to teach until I was old and then run a comic book store,” Lotts said.

So the idea was born. After planning to open up shop, and cleverly naming his company “Evil Empire”, Lotts and his fiance began working side by side.

“My fiance and I are business partners,” Lotts said.

Since she is a teacher as well, The Secret Lair has unorthodox hours. The comic store is open Wednesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to to 6 p.m.

“We’re thinking about expanding hours, depending on if business continues to pick up how it has been,” Lotts said.

Not only does The Secret Lair offer comics and games, it also gives back to the community. Lotts’ and his fiance sell ‘all ages’ comics at a 40 percent off discount.

“We’re trying to help with literacy in the community,” Lotts said.

The Secret Lair makes no profit from the ‘all ages’ books because of the low rates.

The most popular comic currently is “Rocket Racoon”. Lotts claims it is a character from the box office hit, “Guardians of The Galaxy”.

“It’s about a little space racoon… with big guns,” Lotts said.

Mr. Lotts’ favorite comic book? Naturally, it involves a historical event.

“Right now it’s “Manifest Destiny”. Its about Lewis and Clark travelling across the country, but they run into monsters,” Lotts said.