Kobold's Keep

Small Butler St collectibles shop north of Pittsburgh with neatly organized Magic: The Gathering singles, Pokemon, retro games, manga and comics.

Kobold's Keep is a one-room collectibles shop on Butler Street on the north bank of the Allegheny, just upriver from the city's Lawrenceville neighborhood. It is a no-frills space, but it rewards a slow browse: cards, retro games, movies and print media share the shelves, and the owner keeps everything carefully sorted.

Magic: The Gathering singles are the standout. The MTG selection is well organized and easy to dig through, so Commander players hunting specific staples or budget upgrades can usually find what they need without flipping through disorganized bulk boxes. Pokemon cards are stocked as well, along with other trading card games that come through on buys. Bargain hunters appreciate that low-dollar singles are priced fairly, making it a practical stop for filling out a deck.

The rest of the inventory leans retro. Expect vintage video games, the occasional as-is console or cable for home repair projects, DVDs and VHS tapes, comic books and manga. That mix makes the store a good fit for collectors with more than one habit, and it gives this Pittsburgh card shop a treasure-hunt quality that larger stores lack.

The owner runs the counter personally and keeps consistent posted hours, which regular customers appreciate. The shop is open noon to 6PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a shorter noon to 3PM window on Wednesday. It is closed Sunday. Street parking is available along Butler Street, and the shop is an easy hop over the 40th Street Bridge from Lawrenceville. If you are building a Commander deck on a budget, bring your list; the organized singles stock and friendly pricing make it a good place to knock out a dozen cards in one visit, and the owner is happy to point you toward recent buys that have not hit the binders yet.