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Shops in San Antonio?

helionauthelionaut Posts: 1,555 ✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I'm going down to SAT for a show on Saturday and was wondering if there are any good card or comic shops down there. I've heard there is one realy good card shop, and a couple lesser ones.

Actually, Stone, are you going to the show? Live Oak CC?
WANTED:
2005 Origins Old Judge Brown #/20 and Black 1/1s, 2000 Ultimate Victory Gold #/25
2004 UD Legends Bake McBride autos & parallels, and 1974 Topps #601 PSA 9
Rare Grady Sizemore parallels, printing plates, autographs

Nothing on ebay

Comments

  • SDSportsFanSDSportsFan Posts: 5,136 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The only shop I'm aware of is "What's on Second". The owner's name is Bruce and he's a really nice guy...he'll absolutely talk your ears off if you're not careful. He's originally from New York and is a big Yankee fan (not that there's anything wrong with thatimage ). I go to his shop a couple times a month and really enjoy itimage

    Not sure about the comic side of things as far as stores go.

    I moved to San Antonio in December (Air Force) and will be at the Live Oak show myselfimage


    Steve
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,409 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hi Guys
    I must confess I don't go to shows or shops. No real excuse. I did go to Houston this year and didn't really get much out of it. The stuff presented was very expensive IMO.

    The Live Oak Show is an ongoing event and I would like to meet you guys in the future. I won't be able to attend anything right now.

    There is a shop that has been around a long time - "Stats" - it's on Nacadoches - just inside the 410 Loop, that's about all I can say - went there in 1992 - went with my son and was treated like a stranger if you get my drift - I'll bet that won't happen today - "they" need us now. Years ago, they advertised in SCD once in a while.

    The shop by my house is good for modern purchases - a little vintage - DiPietro's - I believe is the name - obviously they are in the phone book.

    Again, shops don't get the attention of people who have been collecting for a while due to the "stink" they created that permeates the air a decade after the "boom" in the industry.

    I do look forward to meeting guys from this neck of the woods - a lunch - share some stories - would be nice.

    I should have my new room finished by the end of the summer and I invite anyone who comes to SA to drop by my house and talk sports. I've got a lot of stories and stuff to share - anyone who has been around the hobby for a couple of decades or more can and will talk your ear off!

    mike
    Mike
  • Lothar52Lothar52 Posts: 2,664 ✭✭✭
    YEP...i hope they all ATE IT on 1991 stadium club.....I remember them wanting 10 bucks a pack...last year i got 6 boxes at 10 bucks a pop and put together a real nice set...then rose my arm and hand slowly up in the air and extended the middle fingerup ......and shouted...... yeehaw!!!!! EAT IT JD SPORTSCARDS!!!

    loth
  • mudflap02mudflap02 Posts: 2,060 ✭✭
    I don't remember the name of the shop, but I grew up in Olmos Park and got most of my precious 88 Topps in and around SA.
  • SDSportsFanSDSportsFan Posts: 5,136 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Stats used to be a great shop when I was stationed in San Antonio in the early 1990's. I went by there a couple months ago and was totally shocked. Jon Richmond is the owner.

    It's only open weekdays, and it has shrunk to maybe 1/4 of it's old size. He has practically nothing out front...everything he does have is stuffed in boxes in a back room.

    He really only does ebay now. It was a really sad sight to see. It used to be the best shop in town.


    Steve
  • TunispaulTunispaul Posts: 156
    As someone who has lived in SA since 1979 and been involved in the hobby before then, I can give you the low down on all the shops here. If you are coming to the Live Oak show, spend your money there. IMO the shops are limited because of their pricing. Most of the shop owners set up at the show anyway.

    In defense of Jon Richmond and Stats, Jon saw the new card bust before any of us. He has always been kind of eclectic about what he likes but the bottom line is that he is one of three of the most knowledgable memorabilia collectors/sellers in town. His shop is atrocious but he has an eye for the unusual. He buys big and he sells big. He is probably our Mr. Mint. Super nice when you get to know him but very gruff if you don't. Hope you like snuff because he always has a lip full of it. He will be prowling around the show.

    Bruce and What's on Second will be set up at the show and his prices will be high. Will talk your ear off if you let him. Always has a hard candy in his mouth and is constantly sucking on it while he is talking. Very annoying. When I have to go to his shop, it is in and out. Mostly for supplies.

    Charlie Dipietro has a nice shop that he shares with his wife. Has a lot of wax. I used to buy boxes of 1986 Donruss from him for $80.00 and my buddy and I would split the packs looking for Kal Daniels and Fred McGriffs. HaHaHa. Don't ever go there when he isn't there. His wife will kill you with her unfriendliness.

    All my opinions of course, see you at the show.
    #1 2000 Blue Xceptional Set(and #2 and #3, it's a sickness)
    1933 Giants
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,409 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Tunis
    There was a guy who had a shop on Vance Jackson - I want to say it was called - Who's on Second? - the guy's name was Gilley - very nice person - have you seen him around?

    mike
    Mike
  • TunispaulTunispaul Posts: 156
    Gilly was pretty cool. I haven't seen him in years. He worked with a guy named Arnie before he had his own shop. That was years ago. Tommy was also one of the early shopowners in SA. He will be hawking his Cowboy memorabilia at the show I'm sure
    #1 2000 Blue Xceptional Set(and #2 and #3, it's a sickness)
    1933 Giants
  • SDSportsFanSDSportsFan Posts: 5,136 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Tunis
    There was a guy who had a shop on Vance Jackson - I want to say it was called - Who's on Second? - the guy's name was Gilley - very nice person - have you seen him around?

    mike >>




    I remember Gilly Gutierrez from when I was here from 1990 to 1995. He ran Who's on First on Jackson-Keller and then his partner spun off with What's on Second on Naco-Perrin. I still have one of their old business cards with both stores listed on it. I went to both shops all the time and they both had some nice stuff.

    When I got back to San Antonio this past January and went to What's on Second, Bruce told me that he had bought out both Who's on First and What's on Second. He still has in fact, Gilly's old wooden file cabinet that he kept alot of his cards in.

    I used to go to Stats all the time also, and got to know Jon pretty well. He actually remembered me when I went to his shop a couple months ago, after not being there in over 10 yearsimage He was the one dealer in town who consistently carried vintage, pre-1960 cards, including quite a bit of pre-WWII stuff. He also carried alot of vintage memorabilia. That's why it was such a shock to see his shop now...I was really looking forward to buying from him againimage

    Tommy Wilks and his wife used to run Batter's Box on Jones Maltsberger, across from the Northside Sports Complex, but he apparently closed up a while back.

    Charlie DiPietro sounds familiar also, but I can't quite place him...I'll have to look him upimage

    The only other dealer in town I know of is John Billingsley in Universal City. He specializes in pre-WWI cards, but doesn't have a store. He deals pretty much exclusively on ebay and also sets up at area shows.



    Steve

  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,409 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nice report Steve
    I've been back in San Antonio for 7+ yrs and don't get out. Pretty bad. I guess I got burned out on going to stores/shows and seeing the same tired stuff collecting dust and high prices.

    DiPietro's is off of both Lockhill and NW Military - the guy works for the military and his wife watches the shop which also is a gift shop for him. He seems like a nice guy. I did buy a nice 56T Zimmer for 15$ that got a PSA 8 - not too bad.

    I will have to start circulating I guess. I think there's another regular show in SA besides the Live Oak show?

    mike
    Mike
  • gregmadduxfangregmadduxfan Posts: 556
    I did my undergrad in San Antonio and never made it into a shop. I do remember a memorabila store in the Northstar Mall that didn't last long. I walked through there and it was loaded with fake crap, everyone of their autographs they claimed they got in person, very hard to believe. I was suprised that there weren't more shops in SA considering how large of a city it is.
  • SDSportsFanSDSportsFan Posts: 5,136 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks Mikeimage

    I feel the same way about seeing the same old tired waxpacks of overpriced new stuff at all the shops. That's why I try to find and frequent any that carry pre-1980 cards.

    I'm not sure about the show scene around here at this point. I do know there is a local guy, Howard Lau, that promotes (quarterly?) shows at the Live Oak CC...he had one last weekend. The one coming up tomorrow through Sunday is being put on by Larry Dluhy from Houston. I think he does one or two a year at Live Oak.

    Thanks for the tip about DiPietro's...I'll check him out this weekend!


    Steve
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