Stark Trading celebrates 1 year anniversary 

Maddie Sims madelyn@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee SILSBEE — Stark Trading Co, known for housing trading cards and collectible items celebrated its one year anniversary, Aug. 1. Stark Trading Co. was founded by local hobbyists who saw a need for a community-first card shop in Southeast Texas, according to the organization’s website. What started as a passion project quickly grew into a full-service store where collectors, players, and curious newcomers all feel at home. The Stark Trading Co building was first located in Downtown Silsbee with only 2 displays and one shelf to house items, Owner Brett Stark said. After a month, he saw the hype that having a local card shop had in town, and made plans to expand. The current building was purchased in January of this year, Stark said. But a recent robbery led to over $80k of collectible goods being stolen, with the glass displays smashed into pieces. Before the store was to reopen, Stark bought it all back and on the morning of the store’s celebration, finished installing the last new shelf, saying it took him all week to get it done. When the store opened its doors, they were met with customers parking off the side of the highway and long lines that stretched throughout the store. “Other business are bigger than ours, so we have a lot of gratitute to our community,” Stark said. “Having the support has allows me to invest in more inventory and future locations.” Stark said it is a big deal that the store was able to stay open, because along with the store’s opening, Stark Trading Co will hold a Pokemon League Tournament and Trading Card Show this September. “If the break-in ruined it for us, events like this wouldn’t have happened,” he said. Stark Trading Co is located at 809 Hwy 327 in Silsbee. For more info, visit https://starktradingco.com/home.