The parade of kids with Beckett price guides coming into the shops that used to be a staple of the hobby in the early 1990s has dwindled and the focus has shifted. Operating a sports card store has changed immensely in 20 years, but some have survived by accepting what their new customers are asking for.
High-end packs and boxes are strong. Trading card games like Magic are bringing in a new audience that might not even like baseball all that much.
It’s what enables long-time shops to stay in business, though.
In Escondido and Oceanside, Calif., the number of available shops has dwindled to just a couple.
In the latest on a series of mainstream media stories about the hobby’s bygone days, The North County Times paid a visit to a couple of shops with owners who have seen it all.
