All American Sports Cards - 1377 Kooser Rd, San Jose, CA,  (408) 267-0300 
All American is the best card shop in the South Bay for hockey cards.  Owner Frank Lopez Jr. has been active in the sports card business in the South Bay since the late 80's.  You will always find the newest wax, a good selection of singles, and lots of hockey stuff here.  I always enjoy a trip here and just wish I could stop by more often.  Frank buys and trades some. 

Steven's Creek Sports Cards - 3220 Stevens Creek  Blvd,  San Jose, CA, (408) 243-1120 
Kevin Johnson has been involved with this shop for over 15 years.  First working for his father who founded the shop, now managing it for South Bay Cards.  This is the most complete shop in the area.  They've got: wax, sets, singles, sorted commons, auto's, supplies, PSA, everything you need.  This is probably my favorite shop to visit.  It's also one of the few shops that stocks older cards on a regular basis.  Kevin will also take want lists if there's something your looking for.  Will buy and trade. 

Fun Stuff Card's and Comics - 422 W Capitol Expy San Jose, CA, (408) 972-8883 
Don't let the Comics in the title scare you to much, it's not a bad place.  They have a little hockey, but it stays current.  I mostly stop here to get supplies.  Does a little buying and trading 

South Bay Sports Cards -  Grant Ave, Mountain View. 
This one can be a little tough to find.  It's set at a 90 degree angle from Grant road.  Pull into the Nob Hill parking lot and look around, you'll see it quickly.  South Bay and Steven's Creek are owned by the same guy.  You'll find about the same selection on most items, but Steven's Creek has better commons and older cards.  They take want lists here as well and have found a few real tough cards for me. Buys and trades only a day or two a week.  Call the shop to be sure. 

Brian's Books - El Camino Real, Santa Clara 
No where else in the South Bay seems to bring out as many editorials from collectors as this place.  Everyone loves this comment so I'll leave it in: " This is the one place I feel confident buying a single wax pack.  I think it's because the guys who work there are to busy playing Magic to search packs."  Seems like almost everyone has had some kind of bad experience here, mostly with the staff or what they consider high pricing.  They always do have the most current wax, and it's usually 10-15% higher than you can find it somewhere else.  The big advantage is they always get every release, so if some other shop doesn't have it, they'll have it here.  Don't bother for singles, they never update the case.  Brian is the only one who will buy and trade, once or twice a week I think 

Talkin' Sports - 2281 Paragon Dr., San Jose, CA, (408) 441-0170 
They are wholesale only so you need a resale permit and have to fill out an application with them.  They've added a $25 minimum purchase.  The wax prices are about the same as you'll find on E-bay, and it's hurting them right now.  That and the UltraPro/Pokemon shortage has driven a lot of business away.  No buying or trading 

What's Hot Comics -  1061 Lafayette St,Santa Clara, CA, (408) 241-8212 
It's actually been 5 years, now since I stopped in here, but I remember one case of current hockey at the time.  It would be really cool, if someone swings by there, if you can provide an update. Don't know about buying or trading. 

The Fan Club -2980 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose, CA, (408) 249-8000 
Well this stopped being close to my real job so I doubt I'll be by there much in the future. They're going to have to be moving soon and I'm not sure where they'll end up.  If your looking for a 49ers ashtray this is the place to go.  If your looking for hockey cards, forget it.  Don't know about buying or trading but I doubt it. 

The Arena Show Case - 106 Stockton Ave, San Jose, CA,  (408) 999-0325 
Call themselves a show but it's really a shop.  Kind of like an antiques collective if you know what those are.  Open Weekends and days the Sharks play.  They have the biggest quantity of hockey cards on display around, outside of my show set up of course.  I haven't been in in about a year to check on prices.  The reports I've gotten is that they're still a little more expensive than most of the shops listed here.  This place just doesn't get me that excited.  I'd rather visit one of the first two shops listed above than drive here.  Haven't asked in the shop, but Tom's bought from me at shows. 

Heroes - 24 E Campbell Ave, Campbell, CA,  (408) 378-3667 
Stopped in there a couple years ago and there was no hockey to be found, lots of fantasy gaming stuff tough if that's what your in to.  Doubt they'd buy or trade. 

C&M Cards and Comics - 7032 Santa Teresa Blvd San Jose, CA 95139 (408) 972-9002 
I stopped in not long ago looking for a Beckett.  This place is a classic.  Not one card in their hockey case was newer than 95/96 and not one Shark was to be found.  I'm sure if you asked them they'd say "we don't sell much hockey", and never figure out why they couldn't sell those stale old cards.  Any way I didn't get a chance to ask, since the clerk was telling one of his friends all the gory details of his new college roommate (did anyone have a good college roommate??), and they were busy setting up a table to play Magic, right by the door.  And of course they didn't have any Beckett's. 

Some other's I'd like to hear about: 
Mike's Coloseum.  I haven't been there in 10 years and to tell you the truth I was suprised it was still there a few months ago when I drove down Linclon Ave. 

Capitol Cards??  I think that's the name, up on N. Capitol Ave. 

A new shop also just opened up at Santa Teresa and Snell.  Not the toy shop, that closed, but a real card shop.  I'll try and add an update soon.

If anyone's been to these shops recently or any others, let me know. 

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Shows:  What I know about local shows from setting up, attending or talking to other collectors. 

Tri-Star Shows - They hold this show twice a year.  Once in Feb. at the Cow Palace and once on Labor Day downtown.  It's the Bay Area's big stop on the National show circuit, so it's your only chance to get out and see the big time national dealers.  Hockey has been pretty good at most of them, although the February show is better than Labor Day.  I would expect to see 10-15 cases with hockey at the next show, outside of what I put out.  Fit this show onto your schedule, it's worth the trip. 

Expos Unlimited - Another twice a year show at the Santa Clara Convention Center.  The first time I did this show was in the mid 80's.  After taking about a decade off, I started doing it again.  The show has about 600 tables, it's one of the biggest coin and stamp shows on the west coast.  Off on the right hand side are about 50 card dealers. It's actually a good show for me now.  A few other dealers put out hockey since I've started showing up, and you can find some new wax. 

Santa Clara Holiday Inn (Dan Ragessa) - I still really like this show.  It reminds me so much of the hobby before the big boom in 86-87.  A small show, with 30-40 tables, one local hero autograph guest, and a $1 or $2 to get in.  Your not going to find tons of stuff, but you'll have a good time for a couple of hours.. 

Southland Mall (Tom Patochek) - Tom's another great guy.  He used to do the Westgate show.  I haven't been to the Southland show, so I don't know about hockey at it but he usually gets 40-60 tables. A few other people do shows in the malls up and down the east bay, I'd really like to here what everyone thinks of them and if there's any hockey at them. 

Sunnyvale Hilton - Well it hasn't happened in a while so maybe I'll take this listing down soon.  I've never actually been to a show here, although I've tried.  Every now and then I'll get a flyer or read a show listing in Beckett for a show here, and when I go there's no show to be found. It's very weird and it's happened 3-4 times. 

Hot Shot Promotions (Bong Tongol) - I did my Bong bashing in my first go around at show reviews.  If you want to go to a small show, go to Dan Ragessa's, not this bozo's. 

Al and Damon Jang -  The next time some one goes to this show can they check on Al for me?  It's a really small show 10-20 tables with no hockey. 

The Arena Showcase - Is really a shop, see above. 

The Great Mall - There hasn't been a show here in sometime.  I'm not sure if the mall stopped allowing them. 

Collector's Quest Marriott's Great America - I'm not sure who is putting this monthly show on, and I haven't been to one, but I'm not setting up at or going to any one day show that charges people $5 to get in. 

Sunnyvale Mall, Oakridge Mall & Eastridge Mall (Michael Arshakuni) - I did this show and it was awful.  That's what I've heard from other collectors at all the stops.  It's 60 tables of beanie babies and toys.  Don't waste the gas, you're not going to find anything here.

The Westgate Show - Is now a distant memory.  Too bad! 

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Dealers:  A few local hockey dealers who do shows.  If you have more information or would like to be added please let me know! 

Mitch Amaya - West Coast Hockey Jersey Exchange 
Mitch has not been out to much lately.  I think the Sharks have stopped selling equipment directly, which cut into his supply chain.  His web site is good though and you can get him there. 

Ken - The guy with half hockey and half baseball.  He'll trade and buy and is always looking for Canucks or Kariya cards.  He probably does the most shows of any hockey dealer in the area, mainly the mall shows. I haven't seen him around in about a year, but I did hear a discription of someone who sounded like him from a collector at the last show I did. 

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Collectors:  Some key collector resources in the area to know about. 

Bob Corwin - Has a complete Sharks checklist on his site.  It's a great place to go and find out what's out there.  Bob's said he's not going after all the 99/00's as hard as he's done in the past.  If you come across a 1/1 or x/5 or something, Bob's probably interested in it though. 

Sharks Official Web Site - Has a collectibles exchange which usually has a few listings up.  Some of the chat boards will get cards listed every now and then.  The Sharks have stopped listing game used equipment.  I've got a gut felling that we'll see a deal with Mel-Gray soon from the Sharks to handle the game used stuff. 

Hammerheads - The official booster club of the Sharks.  They run a card exchange at their meetings with the proceeds going to the Sharks Foundation.  It's also a great way to meet other collectors and build a trading network.  There's a good cross over between Booster club membership and collectors, and you're sure to see someone you know from collecting at a booster club meeting.   I'll probably end up donating all my Sharks commons to them for the Sharks foundation, so you might want to go to a meeting soon.

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