The Card Shop

The Card Shop on College Avenue in Waterville is a community-focused sports card and Pokémon shop that grew out of a TikTok hobby into a full brick-and-mortar destination. Featuring a community room with TVs, a pool table, and an Xbox, The Card Shop offers a unique social experience alongside its card inventory.

The Card Shop at 166 College Avenue in Waterville, Maine, is one of the most unique and community-driven card shops in the state. What began as a passion for the hobby shared on TikTok evolved into a full brick-and-mortar shop when owner and enthusiast opened the doors in the fall of 2024, quickly becoming a beloved gathering spot in the Waterville area.

The shop carries a solid selection of sports cards and Pokémon — hobby boxes, retail packs, and singles — covering the major sports leagues as well as the popular trading card game. The Card Shop caters to collectors of all experience levels, from kids cracking their first packs to seasoned collectors hunting specific singles and parallels.

What sets The Card Shop apart from many of its peers is its remarkable community room. Unlike most card shops that focus exclusively on retail, The Card Shop has invested in creating a social space for collectors and gamers alike. Multiple televisions, a pool table, and an Xbox make the community room a perfect hangout spot for football Sundays, late-night gaming sessions, and casual collector meetups.

This social element has proven especially popular with younger collectors and students from the Colby College community and local high schools. The Card Shop has become a true community gathering place where the shared love of collecting and gaming brings people together in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

The shop hosts show events and swap meets that bring additional vendors and collectors to the space, creating mini collector fairs that offer even more buying and selling opportunities. These events have been well attended and have helped establish The Card Shop as a positive force in the central Maine collecting community.

For collectors who want more than just a retail transaction — who want a full experience that combines great cards with great company — The Card Shop in Waterville delivers something genuinely special. Its blend of hobby shop and community center makes it one of Maine's most creative and enjoyable card destinations.