Pokémon card shops across Arizona are reporting soaring sales as collectors search for high-value cards, while families return to the hobby for a shared pastime.
The surge has been particularly visible in the Phoenix area, where demand intensified following the release of a 30th-anniversary edition of the Pokémon Trading Card Game in September.
Big-box retailers were reported to have sold out of some anniversary packs within hours of them reaching shelves, with early-morning queues forming outside shops. Packs that originally sold for about $32 were also being resold online for more than twice that price.
Specialist retailers have continued to attract customers looking for rare cards, sealed packs and the chance of finding a valuable “chase” card. Managers say the appeal extends beyond investors and experienced collectors, with parents and children increasingly visiting shops together.
At Samurai Comics in Phoenix, manager Cody Sheridan said demand had grown partly because some buyers were hoping to make money from their purchases. The shop has considered limiting sales and withholding details of new stock releases to discourage speculators.
Nearby, Collectors Marketplace continued to have anniversary cards available, illustrating the different levels of stock among independent retailers. Smaller shops have become an important destination for customers unable to find the latest releases in larger stores.
The market includes cards worth only a few cents as well as rare examples valued at thousands of dollars, with condition, scarcity and popularity all influencing their price.
For many families, however, the attraction is less about resale value than the excitement of opening a pack, completing a collection and sharing an interest across generations.
