Everybody says support your LCS, here’s my experience.

[WhacksPacks]

Originally Posted by ga5150

I think the one you described is this—. It was a decent sized show that ran every Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday in an old remodeled grocery store at the location you described from around 1990 to 1993. It was at the intersection of Highway 29 and Beaver Ruin Road directly behind the Wendy’s. They had grown enough that they were bringing in decent autograph guests occasionally, lots of Braves a few Falcons and Hawks. I remember waiting in lines to get Tom Glavine Steve Avery and others there.

So many feels and memories in this thread.
Yet another 90’s Lilburn-ian here.
Talk about small world.
Used to crush those gwinnett card shows and the card shop in Green’s Corner.. forget the name now but from 1989-1993 I was there weekly or whenever my mom would drop me off. Pretty sure there was a ballin arcade downstairs of it too

As for OP.

Champion Sportscards north of Atlanta in Marietta is absolutely top notch and has great inventory and very competitive pricing. Been going there for a decade and have pulled some absolute monsters from them.

[ryanc576]

I'm in Blue Springs and have been to Show Me many times -- it's small, but the ladies are VERY nice and they do have a pretty extensive selection of singles compared to most shops these days.

There's a second store in BS now on 7 Highway just south of 70 -- Pine Tar Sports. I go there for supplies. He doesn't have nearly the supply of singles except for Royals and Chiefs stuff, but he typically has a decent selection of $1 boxes of parallels, relics, autos, etc.

I think there is a shop is Belton, also, or there was, but I've never been there.

Are there any decent shows in KC? I moved here two years ago, and while I was pleasantly surprised to find two shops right here next to me, I have yet to learn of any shows. Apparently one of the casinos hosts one from time to time, but I never seem to see or hear any word of these in advance.

Originally Posted by jjrpilot

Those of you in Kansas City, MO, give me your recommendations!

There’s a Show Me Sports Cards in Blue Springs owned and run by two nice elderly women. If you buy a single they get out the sports price book lol.

Supposedly there’s a good shop in Liberty, MO.

There’s a decent shop in Overland Park, KS right across the MO border that’s pretty cool too. Scott is the owner and his sons help run the store. They’re pretty cool guys.

[hairysasquatch]

Imagine if an LCS did rip parties with hot chicks...

I'd put on a blue blazer festooned with cards for that sh*t....

[999tony]

I don’t know about decent shows in kc area but the only one I know about is every two months next is in August. At Hampton inn at 119th and strang line road— I have only been 2-3 times. They did hold it this month but I missed it. Maybe 10- 15 dealers —I only buy lesser condition raw vintage so idk how the uv dealers are. Only 2-3 dealers for me. I do have email address for a dealer so I could find next date.. There is an annual show at independence mall — I’ve been to once a couple years ago. Some dealers came in from other states so pretty decent but idk when it is.

Originally Posted by ryanc576

I'm in Blue Springs and have been to Show Me many times -- it's small, but the ladies are VERY nice and they do have a pretty extensive selection of singles compared to most shops these days.

There's a second store in BS now on 7 Highway just south of 70 -- Pine Tar Sports. I go there for supplies. He doesn't have nearly the supply of singles except for Royals and Chiefs stuff, but he typically has a decent selection of $1 boxes of parallels, relics, autos, etc.

I think there is a shop is Belton, also, or there was, but I've never been there.

Are there any decent shows in KC? I moved here two years ago, and while I was pleasantly surprised to find two shops right here next to me, I have yet to learn of any shows. Apparently one of the casinos hosts one from time to time, but I never seem to see or hear any word of these in advance.

[iluvfish2]

I love my LCS (Extra Innings in Mason, MI). Good or bad, figure an hour if you are heading in there as Rick loves to chat (or I do take your pick). But its about as old school as you get.

I've got others in the area that I generally avoid but its mostly personal preferences and being in the hobby 20+ years in just the Grand Rapids/Lansing area, you are bound to either rub some the wrong way or be rubbed yourself. Do I write them off completely no as a collector you never know when something might pop up.

[iluvfish2]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Imagine if an LCS did rip parties with hot chicks...

I'd put on a blue blazer festooned with cards for that sh*t....

They did...We requested they didnt come back as they were the ones handling the packs...

[CubsFanInTX]

Originally Posted by sabrgeek

I'm betting you mean Nick's and not Chris's. And it's different but still very good with Dean owning the shop and the people running it.

Nick and Debbie are doing just fine BTW

Regards
Rich

Uh yeah, damn been too long since I've been there I guess.

[Canedude08]

I lucked out when I moved out here to Phoenix, the first shop I visited turned out to be the exact kind of shop I was looking for(Hot Corner Sports Cards). Good owners, solid selection, and good atmosphere. They don't do breaks, he does most of his online stuff through EBay, selling singles, and they have a hell of a Saturday live auction.

[Stifle]

Have you attempted to contact him via phone? Could create a different vibe if you were to let him know you realized he was in a group break and ask him how he did on the break.

Try to have him talk about himself, it works.

[atlcast]

Originally Posted by WhacksPacks

So many feels and memories in this thread.
Yet another 90’s Lilburn-ian here.
Talk about small world.
Used to crush those gwinnett card shows and the card shop in Green’s Corner.. forget the name now but from 1989-1993 I was there weekly or whenever my mom would drop me off. Pretty sure there was a ballin arcade downstairs of it too

As for OP.

Champion Sportscards north of Atlanta in Marietta is absolutely top notch and has great inventory and very competitive pricing. Been going there for a decade and have pulled some absolute monsters from them.

This was Atlanta Spotscards in Green's Corner.It was owned by Barry Sanders.I worked there when I was a kid as I was friends with his sons.If you are familiar with metal music his sons are Kyle and Troy Sanders.Bassist for the bands Hell yeah! and Mastodon respectively.

[ayalar09]

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and our lack of LCS around here is actually quite frightening. The closest decent LCS shop, named Lefty's is located in Burlingame which is about a 15-20 minute drive from San Francisco with no traffic.

A piece of me wants to open my own shop here, so if anyone has advice on how to go about doing that it would be greatly appreciated.

[unitasfan]

Originally Posted by jjrpilot

Those of you in Kansas City, MO, give me your recommendations!

There’s a Show Me Sports Cards in Blue Springs owned and run by two nice elderly women. If you buy a single they get out the sports price book lol.

Supposedly there’s a good shop in Liberty, MO.

There’s a decent shop in Overland Park, KS right across the MO border that’s pretty cool too. Scott is the owner and his sons help run the store. They’re pretty cool guys.

Northland Baseball Cards on N. Oak in KC North.

Enrique is the best, always willing to wheel and deal and generally has a decent selection of singles, wax, and vintage. It's where I go to hang out and when us regulars are there 3 to 4 hours can zip by easy. The show at the hotel is every 2 months and if you want a nice selection to shuffle through stop at Big Mike's table. He's awesome to deal with and is always turning his inventory. Tell them Joe recommended them.

[Gatorsmld]

There is a good one in Alabaster AL called SportsNuts if anyone is ever in the area.

[PDCCollectibles]

I'm lucky enough to have 4 card shops near me and they are all fantastic:

Randy's Sportscards
Knuckleball Sportscards
Carl's Cards and Collectibles
Sportscard Playground

[OLDPAPER]

These days LCS owners have to do whatever they can to stay open....all the ones that closed in the Tampa area did so because they refused to have a strong online presence.

That being said, anyone that walks in the shop should be treated well. It is a tough balance. Breaks should be done out of the public eye and separate from the storefront IMO

For anyone in Florida, I recommend
Baseball Card Clubhouse-Tampa across from Plant High School
Wonder Water-Clearwater north of Countryside Mall

[kevinandji]

Originally Posted by ayalar09

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and our lack of LCS around here is actually quite frightening. The closest decent LCS shop, named Lefty's is located in Burlingame which is about a 15-20 minute drive from San Francisco with no traffic.

A piece of me wants to open my own shop here, so if anyone has advice on how to go about doing that it would be greatly appreciated.

You have 3 awesome ones within an hours drive...

Stevens Creek Sportscards in San Jose near Santana Row

Southbay Sportscards in Sunnyvale

Peninsula Sportscards in Belmont

Been around for decades, very helpful and friendly, good prices upon first releases and very knowledgeable and will go out of their way for you.