L & K Sportscards & More

Highland Park fixture pairing hobby-stock sports wax with Hawkeyes and Cyclones memorabilia, plus a monthly pack war that fills the shop.

L & K Sportscards & More has been serving collectors from the E 14th and Euclid corner since relocating from Altoona in 2011, and it operates on an old-school premise: hobby stock only, more hits per box than anything you'll pull off a retail peg. Eighteen-plus years in business have made it one of the longest-running independent stops in the Des Moines card shop landscape.

The merchandise mix is unusual and part of the charm. Sports wax and singles anchor the room, but the walls carry Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones apparel — tees, crews, hoodies, caps and beanies — alongside autographed memorabilia, team jewelry, clocks, blankets and signs. There's even a rack of car accessories: floor mats, decals, license plate frames. Owner-run and unhurried, it reads more like a neighborhood memorabilia counter than a modern glass-case operation.

The monthly pack war is the shop's signature event and the best reason to plan a visit around the calendar rather than the hours. Regulars buy in, rip together and split the room's attention across a table of fresh boxes — a format that has kept a small but loyal group coming back for years. Ask at the counter for the next date; it's announced in-store and on the shop's Facebook page rather than a website.

Scheduling takes a little care. L & K is closed both Monday and Sunday, and runs 10AM to 6PM Tuesday through Saturday. Saturday mornings draw the steadiest foot traffic; a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon gets you one-on-one time to dig through boxes.

Finding it is easy once you know the landmark: the storefront sits across from the Goodyear on E Euclid, next door to Petsakes, in the Highland Park neighborhood on the city's north side. Street and lot parking are both available, and the location is a short hop off 2nd Avenue.