Nostalgia can have a unique way of bringing people of all ages together, despite their past experiences. Most people have something in their life that will evoke a warm, fuzzy feeling when they think about it – more often than not, this thought will be tied back to a youthful memory or experience that one longs to hold onto. These sentimental feelings about the past are exactly what one new store in Noblesville is attempting to evoke, bringing together a mix of many different entertainment mediums that will give collectors of all kinds somewhere to call home.

     Beginning in September of 2024, the co-owner of Noblesville’s new Collectors Emporium, Dylan Williams, and his father would eventually settle on the business’s current spot just minutes away from Noblesville High School. The grand opening of the store took place in December of that same year, and many decisions had to be made to ensure the right place for this business to thrive.

     “We needed something that had enough room to hold comic books, Pokémon and vinyl records, because we do multiple different things. We just wanted to find a storefront that could manage all that and then also stick within our budget,” Williams said.

     The shop is attempting to bridge the gap between not only the past and present, but also between fans of many different media types. Whether shoppers are fans of super hero stories, monster themed trading cards, or classic forms of music, Williams stresses the store’s commitment to satisfying numerous groups of customers.

     “That’s why we call ourselves Collectors Emporium,” Williams said. “We are a culmination of multiple different types of collectibles. I think our goal is to really bring something to Noblesville that feels nostalgic for people, but also something fresh and new at the same time.”

     Collectors Emporium isn’t only about bringing people in to shop. Senior Michael Taylor recently started working at the store, and he says it’s a way to bring together his love of comics and cards. 

     “The typical shift consists of pricing out Pokémon cards, helping customers, and then buying things from customers occasionally, too. People come in here with small collections with just a couple of things, or people come in here with full cases of stuff,” Taylor said.

     With the immense popularity of the Pokémon trading card game, Collectors Emporium has made selling these miniature monsters a mainstay of their business model. However, they do more than simply sell cards. They also set up and host events dedicated to buying, selling, and trading collectables from the popular game.

     “We are Pokémon centric, so we do giveaways, we have our own convention called Pokapalooza, and we do trade nights. We really have a spot for Pokémon collectors and players to kind of gather,” Taylor said.

     The company’s owners say Pokapalooza is the store’s claim to fame these days, extending their reach by getting Pokémon fanatics from across the Midwest together to share their love of the beloved collectable card franchise.

     “It was 300 tables of Pokémon, plushies, merch, cards, obviously, for the most part,” Williams said. “I think that’s been really cool and exciting for us, learning the promoter’s side of things, and that’s another way to connect, because we’re connecting not only with members of the local community at that point.” 

     Frequent customers say that the shop has built a positive standing within the Noblesville community, where fans return not only for the inventory, but also for the kindred collectors that flock there.

     “[It brings together] like minded people to find collectibles and stuff like that. It’s very good for the community,” customer Will King said.

    In addition to building their customer base, Williams and his fellow Collectors Emporium employees are also continuing to grow their inventory of products. With a slew of nostalgic items for all ages, events for like-minded collectors to gather, and a convenient location for the people of Noblesville, Williams says that the sky is the limit for Collectors Emporium.

     “I think our goal is to just be a place for collectors of all types to have a home in this community,” Williams said. “We’re just excited to see what the future holds with it, and we hope that people can find something that they enjoy here.”