SOMERS POINT — No matter the age or interest level, collectors, movie buffs, gaming and anime fans will find a new hangout coming to southern New Jersey.
Owned by passionate hobbyists Evan Mawson and Dillon Pearson, Holographic Hobbies will bring both adults and children with common interests of gaming together in Somers Point. The shop is set to have its grand opening Friday, May 12.
Whether one likes Pokemon, Yu Gi Oh!, or Magic the Gathering, among others, Holographic Hobbies will have “something for everybody.”
The owners have exciting events in store, including trading and gaming nights. Mawson said he hopes the store will become a haven for the collecting community to gather with a shared interest online and in person, no matter the age. He said trading and gaming nights will become the norm at the store, as well as the potential of hosting children’s birthday parties.
“We are here to service our community and hang out with like-minded individuals,” Mawson said. “We can talk about our collection and we are open to anyone and everyone who is willing to come and chat.”
In addition to selling, trading and buying products in store, Pearson described how he started influencing the masses on a platform called Drip-Shop Live. There, he can videotape himself “ripping” (collector slang for ripping open a deck of cards, such as Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, etc.) cards, showing them to his followers, selling them to viewers and shipping them to customers the following day. Pearson and Mawson have even built their own streaming studio right in Holographic Hobbies.
“We do games on there (Drip-Shop Live) and you’re able to incentivize buyers. We already have a big desk, boom mics, the whole nine yards. It’s almost like a podcast studio. It’s a pretty niche thing, gaining momentum in popularity. A lot of my friends who haven’t opened Pokemon cards started tuning into the stream and are now regular Pokemon collectors, and it’s just a fun new way to buy cards,” Pearson said.
Mawson said Holographic Hobbies has everything needed for a seasoned or novice collector to grow their budding collection.
“We are always looking at expanding our inventory. If you’re new to your hobby or are a seasoned collector, we will have something for you for sure. We are always sourcing hard-to-find, rare items as well,” Mawson said.
As a seasoned collector himself, Mawson said he has honed in on how to find just the right product to add to a growing collection. Even if the duo doesn’t carry the exact card or collectible at the moment, they likely can find it for someone.
In a world where counterfeit collector cards are easier to come by than not, Pearson said that all Holographic Hobbies customers are guaranteed authentic cards and collectibles.
“You can get trapped [fake cards], and mostly get trapped on eBay and whatnot. You can manipulate the picture,” Pearson said. “Someone experienced in collecting will be able to spot a fake right away. Ethically we never, ever do that. It’s a risk you run, but we would never do that obviously because your reputation is everything.”
They described how their grand opening date is strategically planned because the two were headed to Dallas in the beginning of May to the “world’s largest card collection convention,” Collect-A-Con.
The convention showcases pop culture icons and influencers, such as movie star Chuck Norris, Major League Baseball World Series Champion Jose Canseco and Veronica Taylor, who voices Ash Ketchum from Pokemon.
The owners said they hope to bring back new products and inspiration for their store, as well as connect people from all around the world with similar interests. Pearson said he has even met some of his livestream viewers at these conventions as well.
“There are people who have been buying cards for a year [from the online store] and when we went to Orlando, we were able to meet face to face,” he said. “I can confidently say that being a collector myself before I thought about opening the store, there is not a store in South Jersey that has a bigger selection. We definitely have the most.”
The owners met in seventh grade at William Davies Middle School in Mays Landing, at first through a shared interest in music, specifically guitar, and started “ripping” together.
The two later reconnected, and started regularly gaming over Discord. Pearson even moved in with Mawson in Northfield for a time.
Mawson recalls his own excitement with his hobby as a budding youth.
“When I was a kid — I was 9 years old when Pokemon released. I’ve been collecting and playing ever since. It was a big part of youth. And it was a nice, nostalgic feeling to open up a collection store like this,” he said.
Mawson said he hopes to provide the same excitement for kids who are like himself when he discovered his love for games.
“It’s pure to watch children open a Pokemon pack and see their smiles when they open something big. It’s a nice experience and very nostalgic for me,” he said.
Holographic Hobbies is located at 426 Shore Road. Current hours are noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.
By ELIZABETH LITTLE/For the Sentinel