In San Antonio, a place where the sun often feels like it’s attempting to fry eggs on the sidewalk, collectors and hobbyists have found solace—not in a cool shade, but among the collectable troves of Boomtown Sports Cards and Pokéshop. This haven for trading card enthusiasts and pop culture fans is now facing a struggle familiar to many small businesses: a dramatic increase in supply costs. The protagonist of this unfolding drama is none other than Boomtown’s owner, Vic Nava, a man who’s just as passionate about Pokémon as he is about numbers that add up.
On a typical Thursday, one would find Nava enthusiastically engaged with customers, sharing the latest card tricks and tips, but last Thursday was different. Instead of unveiling a rare card or new collectible, Nava took to social media to deliver a sobering update. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Nava expressed gratitude to his loyal patrons while bracing them for upcoming price hikes—a move as necessary as it is regrettable. Orders placed on or after Friday, April 18, would reflect the new, increased pricing. “First and foremost,” Nava wrote, “thank you all for being a part of the shop’s growth and success. We are still trucking along thanks to you.”
Addressing the elephant in the room—or rather, the elephant in the store full of rare collectibles—Nava delved into the crux of the issue: global trade policies that have now cast their complex shadows over the world of local hobbies. He lamented, “We choose to keep our heads in the hobby and keep the world’s problems away. Sadly, the real world and all its BS has begun to affect our hobby.” It wasn’t just a complaint; it was a soliloquy shared by many who feel the sting of geopolitical ripples in their day-to-day lives.
As it turned out, the narcs of this economic noir arrived not in overcoats and fedoras, but as two emails from distributors landing in Nava’s inbox like unwanted guests staying too long. The distributors brought grim tidings of a looming 100% upcharge on the essential plastic supplies. 100 percent. That’s enough to make anyone’s wallet develop agoraphobia. Nava was candid about his exasperation: “Yeah…100%….we are pissed too.” Many small business owners might have kept such emotions behind a counter, but Nava, true to form, put it out into the community he cherishes.
Holding prices steady, despite a siren call to pass costs onto customers, might seem heroic, but courage in business also requires pragmatism. Nava understood this, recognizing the precarious position of his shop’s financial health. “I don’t agree with it and I don’t want to do it,” he confessed, as candid as if admitting to a friend he’d misplaced a much-needed cheat sheet during exam season. But if faced with the choice of survival or sentimentality, it seemed the time had come for the latter to step aside.
Instead of the grim outcry many might expect following such announcements, a wave of solidarity cascaded through the comments. The genteel, supportive digital crowd expressed more warmth than the unpredictable April air. A patron named JD Nash cheered Nava on: “Do what you gotta do, brotha. We’ll still support no matter what. Always a pleasure coming into the shop.” Meanwhile, Rey Jimenez’s comment was like an ode to nostalgia, highlighting Boomtown’s role in inspiration: “Because of you guys, my two little boys love collecting. Every time we go into San Antonio, that’s our first stop. Keep the hobby alive, brother!”
It seems Boostown’s patrons are akin to the collectible cards they covet—battling for their place, fierce in their support, yet valuable in their rarity and dedication. It was here that the confluence of support and social media underscores something vital and noteworthy: the impact of international policy as it trickles down into local hands. Even your favorite hobby shop is not immune to a world governed by complexities beyond its bright and welcoming doors.
As costs mount and the retail landscape for collectibles slides upwards, Boomtown Sports Cards and Pokéshop remains a small business that refuses to sink without a rallying cry from its loyalists. It is evident that San Antonio’s diverse and vibrant collector community is ready to adapt and continue their support, ensuring that even in changing landscapes, the shop remains as beloved as the most prized card in any deck.
