Buy/Sell/Trade Forum

I was in Atlanta this weekend for the Culture Collision show, and I heard about a new shop opening in Atlanta, in the next week or 2 [2/2024,] in Cumberland near Braves Stadium.  Shop is called "Cards HQ"

Trade night for the show was at the shop, and too many people went, I couldn't get in to take a look around.

The shop is owned by Geoff Wilson from Sports Card Investor, and the rumour floating around the show is:  Fanatics is a partner. Maybe other partners.

Supposedly the shop will buy and sell singles, sell wax and supplies, and have 8 breaking rooms furnished with broadcasting equipment. Some for breaking by the store, but I assume some for rent breaking by others, at the store.  Also, a stage for breaking, with stadium seating, and people who buy wax at the store, can do a personal break on the stage.  TVs around the breaking stage, to watch a game.

The thing that is really interesting to me, is the 24/7 aspect. A hobbyist can get an urge to hang out at the shop at 2am, or whatever, and drive down .... wow.

I once had an idea for my LCS, before it closed. I told the owner to create an after hours private club.  Store open until 10-6, closes, then reopens 6-11 as a "clubhouse." $40 / month membership.  Members can bring beach chairs, cooler with beers or soft drinks, snacks, and watch a game.  And if the urge strikes, can rip some wax, or do some trading.  That sounds cool to me, but the idea of 24/7 shop is a whole other level.

Back in December I actually got to talk to Geoff for a few minutes. Very nice guy explaining all about it. Would love to visit someday as I have family about 20 minutes away from there. Just hard to get there 13 hours away.

If Fanatics in involved, or worse, invested in it, seems a little bit more, IDK, sketchy to me. Definitely will be finding a way to monotonize customers at a whole different level. Overhead/premium markup on the wax and singles?

I been keeping tabs on CardsHQ opening for a few months now and planning to head to Atlanta to check it out in summer but I don’t think the physical store will be open at 2am.
I think it means there will be live streams from the breaker cabanas going on 24/7 which I assume using the Fanatics Live app if rumor partnership is correct.
 

After pulling up their website, it looks like the physical store is going to be open 8-9 hours a day. The 24/7 aspect comes in from the online shopping experience that they are touting. 

There's good and bad stuff online about Geoff so my feelings are only from what I know. Sounds like he made money in tech companies and then started doing all of the card stuff. 

He does a holiday show every year and I've won a box of cards each year in his drawings. I won't complain about free cards :-)

"If Fanatics in involved, or worse, invested in it, seems a little bit more, IDK, sketchy to me. Definitely will be finding a way to monotonize customers at a whole different level. Overhead/premium markup on the wax and singles?"

Not a fan of anything Fanatics have their fingers in, too many rumors about how they operate for me. I know more than a few rumors about high profile breakers getting special boxes and such. It is bad enough they bought out Topps and are negotiating exclusive deals with major professional spots and their player unions. I wasn't a fan when Panini did it not a fan of Fanatics doing it. Just my opinions.