Shops worth visiting

[Steve D]

The most organized store I've been to is easily Burbank Sportscards. You walk in there with a wantlist, and they'll be able to tell you what they have or don't have in minutes!

Now the most fun store I've been to is Bill's Sports Collectibles in Denver CO. Unfortunately, I haven't been there in around 15 years, but back in the mid-1990s, they had just a wide variety of cards and memorabilia.....Sports Illustrateds, Media Guides for all four pro sports, game programs, jerseys, autographed memorabilia, game used hockey sticks.....the list goes on and on! They of course, had cards from all eras. They were a bit cluttered, but it was just incredible to walk in there and see all the stuff they had!

Steve

[sox1903wschamp]

Originally Posted by Steve D

Now the most fun store I've been to is Bill's Sports Collectibles in Denver CO. Unfortunately, I haven't been there in around 15 years, but back in the mid-1990s, they had just a wide variety of cards and memorabilia.....Sports Illustrateds, Media Guides for all four pro sports, game programs, jerseys, autographed memorabilia, game used hockey sticks.....the list goes on and on! They of course, had cards from all eras. They were a bit cluttered, but it was just incredible to walk in there and see all the stuff they had!

Steve

I second Bill's in Denver. I lived in Denver for 10 years from 93 to 03 and visited probably 2-3 times per year. Have not been back since moving but they were going strong in 03. They had alot of 50's and up cards but boy did they have a ton of programs, magazines and guides. You had to drag me out of there as they had old hobby publications from the 70's stashed that you had to look for. Great way to spend a few hours in the afternoon.

[Section103]

Bill's is still going strong with every bit of the variety of merchandise and the same amount of clutter (watch where you step). They seem to have it all. A few blocks south, is my favorite local place - Mike's Sports Cards. No where near the size and variety, but Mike has fair prices, is usually willing to make trades / deals and loves to just sit and talk cards without anyone buying anything.

[Wite3]

Rob at Burbank has moved his shop. It is still in Burbank but is now housed in a warehouse, literally. His first storefront was a small shop that he started in his father's coin store. It grew from there into a very nice retail space that was super organized. Once his internet sales started to outpace his brick and mortar store, he decided to move to a warehouse. It has a very small store front, the size of a small hall with several sorting rooms and a few display cases. The most impressive thing I saw was the actual back part where he has 15 foot high shelves that go on forever...imagine the final scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark when they put the ark in the warehouse and pull back to the large area...now imagine that with boxes of cards, unopened material, safes (yes, safes), etc. It is really impressive. You can walk in and ask for a card and he has nearly everything in the computer. Sort of sterile and not the way I like my card stores.

Matt at Beverly Hills on the other hand has had the same store front for years. Over the years I have been lucky enough to rummage in the back and find some great stuff. He has a great hobby knowledge and is very nice and his store has that old time baseball card shop feel.

Another Los Angeles store that has a decent mix is Valley Baseball Cards. The original owner, Max, was the one to introduce me to vintage Topps when I was just a kid by giving away a free card "from before the year you were born" with every purchase you made (I had about 1/4 of the 1970 topps set when all was said and done!). The new owner has kept the same feel and they have a decent mix of new, old, oddball, and always a few vintage prewar cards. Max just recently passed away...very sad.

There were a few other shops in the greater Los Angeles area that were good but they are long gone now including Baseball Cards, Etc., TriplePlay Sportscards, Simi Valley Sportscards, Granada Hills BB card shop, Canyon Country Sportscards. Oh well...

Joshua

[alanu]

Glad to hear that Bill's in Denver is still going strong. When I lived in Colorado Springs in the late 80's, early 90's I used to enjoy going there, they were always willing to trade and had lots of oddball items that at the time I had never seen before.

[Orioles1954]

Steven's Creek Sportcards in San Jose is an outstanding shop! Whether you want Stephen Strasburg or Tris Speaker, they will be sure to have it. Last time I was there they had a nice selection of Cracker Jacks, Colgan's Chips, various caramels and tobacco cards. Heck, even had a bunch of Topps Test issues and Topps Venezuelan cards. Very very clean and organized and a great staff. I highly recommend it.

[JohnnyB]

Second (or rather, third) the above. I have yet to go into Steven's Creek without picking up a new addition to my pre-war collection. They also have a genuine love of cards, and love showing off new acquisitions and cards they just think are terrific. Plus, they are the only place I've been that have pre-war stuff in their 10% clearance case.