The pandemic sparked a nostalgic rediscovery of trading cards for 19-year-old Aaron Amarant, who stumbled upon a collection of old baseball cards that would change his life. What began as a passion project quickly grew into one of the most prominent and trusted trading card businesses online. Now, Mint City has taken its success to the next level with the grand opening of its first physical location at 9630 Stirling Road in the vibrant Cooper Square Plaza.

This state-of-the-art store has quickly become the go-to destination for trading card enthusiasts, offering a comprehensive range of services including buying, selling, grading, and consignment. Whether you're into sports cards, Pokémon, Star Wars, Magic: The Gathering, or other collectibles, Mint City is the ultimate one-stop shop for all your trading card needs. Step into Mint City and discover a world where your collections come to life—and turn into cash!

“During quarantine, my dad pulled out a safety deposit box and found a Topps Wayne Gretzky rookie card from his teenage years,” Aaron recalled. “We got it graded, and I sold it on eBay for a few thousand dollars. That’s when the light bulb went off.”

Inspired by their success, Aaron and his father combined their strengths—his dad’s deep knowledge of card collecting and Aaron’s expertise in eBay sales—to launch Mint City as an online store. While the trading card industry is highly competitive, the duo has mastered the art of uncovering hidden gems. “We scour overlooked corners of the internet, target undervalued athletes, and focus on niche markets,” Aaron explained. “It’s all about finding opportunities and building from there.”

Their strategy has paid off in a big way. Today, Mint City is an eBay “Top Seller” with over 4,000 positive reviews and a flawless reputation. “We visited a trading card store in California, and people recognized our brand from the t-shirts we were wearing,” Aaron shared. “Having that kind of global recognition is incredible.”

From a single Gretzky card to a worldwide brand, Mint City is proof that passion, persistence, and a keen eye for opportunity can turn a hobby into a thriving business.

When you think of a traditional trading card or collectibles store, you might picture a no-frills shop with dusty display cases and disorganized inventory of uncertain origin. Aaron Amarant had a completely different vision in mind. “I love interior design and really wanted to celebrate the modern world of sports cards,” he said.

After exploring dozens of floor plans, Aaron drew inspiration from the sleek, trendy layouts of high-end sneaker stores—a market that has exploded in popularity in recent years. The result is Mint City’s stunning, state-of-the-art design. The store features 18-foot walls adorned with custom transparent grids, each showcasing graded cards in a visually striking way.

But it doesn’t stop there. Every grid is equipped with a QR code. When scanned, the code takes you to a dedicated website with detailed information about each card in the display, including high-resolution images of the front and back, population counts, and up-to-date pricing. “It’s a unique and very cool interactive display that combines the best of the online and physical worlds,” Aaron explained.

Mint City isn’t just a store—it’s an experience. By blending cutting-edge technology with a sleek, modern aesthetic, Aaron has redefined what a trading card store can be, creating a space that appeals to both seasoned collectors and newcomers alike. Welcome to the future of card collecting.