For Erik Lindquist, trading cards have never been just a hobby.
Over the years, they have become a way to build friendships, strengthen communities and bring people of all ages together around a shared interest. That philosophy is now at the heart of Sky’s Cards, a newly opened trading card shop in Pahrump that offers far more than collectibles. Lindquist hopes it will become a welcoming place where longtime players, collectors, families and complete beginners can all feel at home.
Located in suite 3 next to A Payless Mini Storage at 2400 E. Basin Ave., Sky’s Cards has only been open for a couple of weeks, but Lindquist already has ambitious plans for its future. While customers can currently browse thousands of individual trading cards and gaming supplies, he ultimately envisions Sky’s Cards becoming a community gathering place filled with tournaments, educational events, family game nights and creative workshops unlike anything currently offered in town.
Although Lindquist lives in Las Vegas, where he works as a substitute teacher during the school year, he said Pahrump felt like the right place to launch the business because he recognized an opportunity to serve a different niche within the local trading card community.
“There are already two really good card stores in Pahrump,” Lindquist explained. “They do a great job with the products they focus on, but I wanted to offer something a little different.”
Rather than concentrating primarily on comic books or sealed trading card products, Sky’s Cards specializes in loose individual cards, giving players and collectors the ability to purchase exactly what they need instead of relying on chance.
That philosophy is evident throughout the shop. White storage boxes containing thousands upon thousands of organized cards line the store, while display cases feature sought-after singles that appeal to competitive players and collectors alike. For customers building tournament-ready decks or trying to complete personal collections, being able to purchase individual cards often proves both more affordable and more convenient than buying sealed packs in hopes of finding a specific card.
Lindquist said he has intentionally built his inventory around that concept.
“I want to cater more toward players building decks,” he said, noting that serious players often know exactly which cards they need to improve their game.
At the same time, collectors are equally important. Some visitors are searching for a favorite Pokémon they’ve loved since childhood. Others are trying to assemble complete collections from specific card sets, while still others aim to collect one card representing every Pokémon ever created. Lindquist said every collector has different goals, and he wants Sky’s Cards to help meet all of them.
The store carries an impressive variety of trading card games, including Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, Disney Lorcana, Gundam Card Game and Riftbound, the newly released League of Legends trading card game. Lindquist said he also remains open to expanding into additional games if there is enough local interest.
“If people come in and tell me they play another game and they’d like to see it here, I’m definitely willing to listen,” he said.
The wide selection is intended to make the store welcoming regardless of a customer’s interests or experience level. Whether someone is an experienced tournament player, a lifelong collector or simply looking to purchase their child’s first deck, Lindquist wants them to find something that fits their needs.
One of the business’s biggest advantages comes from Lindquist’s connections in the Las Vegas trading card community. Because he frequently travels between Las Vegas and Pahrump, he is able to source inventory that isn’t always readily available locally.
He also sells cards online through TCGplayer, one of the largest trading card marketplaces in the country and a platform owned by eBay. Having an established online storefront allows him to maintain a significantly larger inventory than many small-town stores typically could.
Currently, more than 23,000 individual cards are listed online, with additional inventory constantly being sorted and uploaded. If a particular card doesn’t sell locally, Lindquist can offer it to collectors nationwide while continuing to refresh the in-store selection with new inventory.
Customers also have the option to browse online before visiting the shop. They can order through the website for in-store pickup, request that specific cards be held aside or even have qualifying purchases shipped directly to their homes.
The online component also helps Lindquist keep prices competitive.
Rather than relying on guesswork, Sky’s Cards uses the current TCGplayer market price as its pricing standard. Because the platform tracks thousands of sales daily, it provides customers with a transparent pricing model that reflects current market demand.
“It’s basically like a stock market,” Lindquist explained.
Card values can fluctuate daily based on popularity, tournament results, rarity and supply and demand. A card worth $10 one day could increase or decrease depending on market conditions, making transparency especially important.
Lindquist said he intentionally looks up pricing in front of customers whenever needed so everyone understands exactly how values are determined.
“I want people to leave happy and feel like they got a good deal,” he said.
His efforts to provide value extend beyond trading cards themselves.
Through relationships with suppliers handling Amazon return merchandise, Sky’s Cards is able to offer many gaming accessories—including binders, sleeves and storage products—for prices significantly below what many customers would pay online.
Each item is personally inspected to ensure it is either new or in like-new condition before being offered for sale.
In many cases, shoppers can save 25 to 30 percent compared to Amazon prices, sometimes keeping more than $10 in their pockets on a single purchase.
Even booster packs for Magic: The Gathering are often sold below the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, something Lindquist said isn’t common among many hobby stores.
“If I can get the savings, I’ll pass it on,” he said.
Despite carrying inventory that appeals to serious collectors, Lindquist said one of his biggest goals is making the hobby approachable for newcomers.
His background as an educator has shaped much of his vision for the store.
Working as a substitute teacher, he has seen firsthand how excited children become when introduced to trading card games. During the school year, he often rewards well-behaved students with trading cards, something he says consistently sparks enthusiasm and positive interactions.
That same passion for teaching is something he hopes to bring into Sky’s Cards through educational events designed specifically for beginners.
Among the future activities Lindquist hopes to introduce are learn-to-play sessions where both children and parents can learn together.
Rather than teaching only young players, the goal is to give entire families the confidence to enjoy the games at home.
Parents would learn the rules alongside their children, allowing them to answer questions, play together and create a shared hobby that extends well beyond the walls of the store.
“I really want to get that going because I’m a teacher and I really like teaching,” Lindquist said.
He believes trading card games naturally encourage communication, critical thinking, sportsmanship and family interaction.
Many of the families already visiting the shop illustrate exactly what he hopes to foster.
Parents often allow their children to browse through cards while working within a set budget, turning each visit into a lesson in decision-making and money management. Children compare cards, weigh their options and decide which additions will best improve their collections or decks.
“It’s another family opportunity,” Lindquist said.
Beyond educational events, he also hopes to introduce experiences that simply don’t exist elsewhere in the local card gaming community.
Among his ideas are Mystery Commander events for Magic: The Gathering players, offering a fresh twist on one of the game’s most popular formats.
He is also collaborating with local Pahrump artists to create Pokémon-themed paint nights, where participants can enjoy a relaxed evening learning to paint their favorite Pokémon characters under the guidance of experienced instructors.
The events are designed to appeal not only to dedicated gamers but also to artists, families and community members looking for something fun and creative to do together.
Lindquist said his long-term vision extends well beyond simply selling merchandise.
He wants Sky’s Cards to become a destination.
“A lot of people view trading card stores like coffee shops, restaurants or bars,” he said. “Each one has its own personality.”
Rather than trying to compete directly with existing businesses, Lindquist hopes Sky’s Cards develops its own unique identity while complementing the other hobby shops already serving Pahrump.
“I’m not trying to put anyone out of business,” he emphasized. “It’s more collaboration than competition.”
He praised the other local stores for the specialties they already provide, noting that each business contributes something valuable to the community. His goal is simply to fill a different niche by focusing heavily on individual cards, large inventory and unique community events.
The store itself currently operates from an indoor space owned by Lindquist’s family at Payless Mini Storage. While unconventional compared to a traditional storefront, the setup provides a secure location to house the business while allowing customers to browse comfortably.
Lindquist compares it to an individual vendor booth found inside a larger marketplace, except that Sky’s Cards occupies its own dedicated location.
Eventually, he hopes to relocate into a more traditional retail storefront as the business continues to grow.
Expansion plans are already underway.
Additional space on the property is being cleared to accommodate future tournaments, workshops and community events as participation increases.
Lindquist also encourages customer feedback through a suggestion box inside the store, saying he wants the community to help shape what Sky’s Cards becomes.
“We’re figuring out what Pahrump wants,” he said.
By listening to customers and adapting accordingly, he hopes to create a destination that not only serves local players but eventually attracts visitors from Las Vegas and beyond.
“We want to offer such a good card store that people from Vegas are coming out here,” Lindquist said.
Sky’s Cards is currently open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., with Lindquist saying he is also willing to open on Sundays if community demand grows.
For now, he says the focus remains on building relationships, expanding inventory and laying the foundation for the events that will ultimately define the business.
“We’re really excited to be here,” Lindquist said. “We want to do events in the future, so follow our social media for updates.”
Customers can browse Sky’s Cards’ full inventory online at https://skyscards.tcgplayerpro.com/. Updates on new arrivals, upcoming events and store announcements are regularly shared on the business’s Facebook page and on Instagram.
For Lindquist, every card sold represents more than another transaction. It is another opportunity to introduce someone to a lifelong hobby, help complete a cherished collection or bring another family together around the table—one card at a time.
