A UNIQUE collectables shop has opened on Lovely Lane.
Bringing a dose of nostalgia to the town, Celestial Collectables has thrown open its doors, welcoming Pokémon card collectors to its gaming goldmine.
Owners Chris Grundy and Matt Pettitt first ventured into business together last year, creating their own Pokémon card vending machines that they have sold to businesses across the country.
The restored arcade vendors proved a popular sell and Chris said this is how the business ‘took off’.
“We got the idea from this American company that does Pokémon vending machines,” Chris said, a self-confessed collector.
“These machines are in our shop. We also supply them to other places. It has just taken off and led to us getting our own store.”
After the release of the popular animated series Pokémon came to UK screens in 1999, the phenomenon of Pokémon collectable cards soon followed.
With people all over the world wanting to swap and trade their cards and grow their collections.
Over the decades the popular trade card game has evolved and is still as popular today as it was in the 90s.
So much so that Pokémon tournaments are held all over the world for enthusiastic players to test their expertise.
Chris, 28, from Great Sankey, has collected the cards for the last five years and said the shop is just as interested in trading cards as it is in selling them to customers.
“Customers can make lots of different trades. It’s the idea of getting rid of the unwanted and giving it another lease of life,” Chris explained.
“The card that is stuck in a shoebox in your attic, we can use that, and you can trade that for something else you would like in the shop.”
For just £1 you can purchase two trading cards in the shop.
As well as the Pokémon vending machines, the shop also stocks pop figures, key rings and other game related collectables.
Chris and Matt added that they are currently running a giveaway on Facebook with the chance of winning £20 store credit – this will run until this Friday so to enter check out their social media page.
Celestial Collectables is currently open on a Saturday from 11am until 4pm and has proved popular with locals so far.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here