Rick's Collectibles

Nearly three decades inside Mall of Abilene, Rick's crams glass cases of sports cards, Magic, Pokemon and vintage Star Wars toys into one dense storefront.

Rick's Collectibles has held its spot inside Mall of Abilene for close to thirty years, directly in front of the kids' rides in the JCPenney wing. It is the closest thing the city has to a true generalist collectibles dealer, and the layout tells you that immediately: glass cases stacked against every wall, product filling the sightlines, and the reliable feeling that whatever you are looking for is in here somewhere if you are willing to look.

The inventory list from the mall's own directory reads like an inventory of the last forty years of American collecting — sports cards, gaming cards, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokemon, sports memorabilia, autographs, pennants, NASCAR, licensed NFL and NCAA sterling jewelry, watches, and vintage toys running from G.I. Joe to Star Wars. Add comics, manga, Funko Pops, Gundam model kits, posters and a full line of collecting supplies. Rick's is also a listed coin dealer.

For a card collector, the appeal is range. Sports cards in Abilene are otherwise thinly served, and this is the one storefront where Pokemon singles and basketball cards live in the same room. Reviewers who came in as collectors tend to describe it as a paradise; reviewers who came in for one specific item sometimes describe it as cluttered and the counter as busy. Both are accurate. Pricing on sealed product and figures runs above market at times, so know your comps.

There is no play space here — Rick's is a browse-and-buy shop, not an event venue, which is worth knowing if you are choosing between Abilene stores for a Friday night. Rick's also buys collections from the public, and participates in promotions like Free Comic Book Day. Because it sits inside the mall, hours track the mall's: 11AM to 8PM Monday through Saturday and noon to 6PM Sunday. Note that the shop's old website domain has lapsed, so Facebook or a call to 325-695-3700 is the way to reach them. A second, smaller Rick's storefront operates on North 6th Street with far more limited hours.