In a landmark collaboration that has collectors across the nation buzzing, PSA—the globally acknowledged authority for grading trading cards—has paired with Burbank Sportscards, Southern California’s veritable palace of trading card commerce. Their combined endeavor is set to manifest in the grand opening of PSA’s debut physical retail location, ingeniously situated within Burbank Sportscards’ capacious new 14,000-square-foot megastore. This groundbreaking venture is slated to open its doors on May 30 and represents not just a milestone for PSA and Burbank Sportscards, but a transformative evolution for the entire collecting community.
Rather than occupying an isolated spot on the commercial map, this PSA enclave will be nestled within the vibrant heartbeat of Burbank Sportscards’ astonishing emporium. Staffed with the full expertise of PSA’s own team, it promises to be an interactive haven where collectors can access personalized service and make direct submissions. Picture it as a casual meet-up with old friends who just so happen to be wizards at appraising and preserving your prized collectibles.
PSA President Ryan Hoge articulates the vision succinctly: “This is about being closer to the customer.” The strategy is simple yet profound: forge a space where conversations and connections naturally flourish, away from the hustle and bustle, in a setting that allows for casual chats over rare cards—or perhaps an earnest discussion over the legitimacy of a supposedly autographed Babe Ruth baseball. It’s all part of a bid to transform the way collectors engage with the grading process, granting them the chance to speak face-to-face with experts every single day.
The retail space promises to transcend your standard one-off card shop experience, offering submission services for a wide array of collectibles, from the more traditional trading cards to novelty items including autographs, unopened packs, Funko Pops, and even vintage tickets. The dual offering of Vault storage and eBay consignment services directly from this venue is a cherry on top for collectors, who might previously have felt burdened by the logistics of storing and selling their treasures.
Rob Veres, the innovative mind behind Burbank Sportscards, is on a mission not just to elevate but completely revolutionize the concept of the card shop. Veres envisions this as a rarefied space that fuses the exhilarating vibe of a live card show with the reliable structure of a top-notch retail business. As he elaborates, “We wanted to create something immersive… Collectors should be able to walk in and feel like they’re in the heart of the hobby—not just flipping through cards, but fully engaged.”
Fulfilling that promise, the store will be equipped with a sophisticated kiosk system providing access to over 40 million cards, powered by a deep digital catalog from which eager collectors can request to have items pulled. Simultaneously, they can relish browsing more than a million cards presented on the showroom floor at an enticing rate of just 25 cents each, neatly sorted by sport and year; it’s akin to sifting for sartorial gems at a consignment shop, without the price tag that weighs down your stylistic quest.
This dynamic partnership is painted against the recent backdrop of Burbank’s bold strategic move earlier this year when the company pivoted from eBay to form an exclusive alliance with Fanatics Collect marketplace. Announced amid the high-energy milieu of the 2024 National Sports Collectors Convention, this edict electrified the hobby, setting the scene for their latest venture—this groundbreaking retail experience.
While PSA has yet to reveal whether this format will blossom into a chain venture or remain a unique alliance borne of friendship with a cherished partner, one fact resounds: there is a growing call for the kind of refined, direct customer service only in-person experiences can deliver. The advent of this retail space isn’t just opening a storefront; it’s ushering in a new paradigm in collecting culture that champions accessibility, interaction, and community at its core.
With the launch of their collaborative vision, PSA and Burbank Sportscards are cementing their roles as not just purveyors of products and services but vanguards steering the future of collecting into a realm where engagement is paramount and the traditional card shop metamorphoses into an arena of immersive discovery. This initiative captures a robust evolution in the hobby, one as intricately layered and infinitely bounded as the collection journeys of the collectors who will walk through their doors.
