How to Build a TCG Store, Part 5: We Got the Keys

We Got the Keys

On Friday, we officially got the keys to our store. In other words, the remodel is complete. The floors are in. The walls are painted. The space is ours.

While we were impatient with the process, getting the keys on Pokemon’s 30 anniversary felt like the universe giving us a quiet thumbs up.

It’s always nerve-wracking to see your creation come to life, but the vibe we hoped to strike is there. Dark wood floors. A deep green accent wall. Sunlight pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

It’s mostly empty right now and a little construction dust lingers. But we’re so excited.

2,700 square feet of potential.

Growing Pains

Thank you for bearing with us while the move disrupted our normal flow.

We’re a 2.5-person crew - no half people, just part-time help - so customer service tickets stacked up and shipping briefly paused. We spent the weekend moving shelves and boxes like much younger people. Our backs reminded us otherwise the next morning.

We appreciate the patience and may ask for a little more as we continue settling in.

Now that we’re physically in the space, the next phase begins.

What Happens Next

Getting the keys is a milestone. It is not opening day.

First up: reorganizing the warehouse and getting fulfillment running smoothly.

After that, the build-out continues:

• Shelving and display fixtures
• Play tables and furniture
• Lighting
• Signage (already in production)
• Point of sale setup
• And the hundred small logistics that will inevitably surface along the way

We still have a lot of work ahead of us. But it feels good to finally say: we have the store.