New In Joliet: There's Nothing Like Card Pop On Jefferson Street

JOLIET, IL — Italian Red Meat Flavor Frito Lays. Fanta soda products made in France. White peach Ooglong Pepsi made in China.

The best way to describe Brenden Taheny's new business called Card Pop that opened in June on Joliet's West Jefferson Street is that there's nothing else like it in the immediate area.

"We're a place to buy, sell and trade and play," Taheny said. "I would love Card Pop to be known as a safe place in the community where everyone feels accepted."

Some walls are stocked with candy and chips, but these are chips you won't find at Jewel or the new Tony's Fresh Market up the street.

And if you're into collecting baseball, football, basketball, hockey, NASCAR or MMA trading cards, Card Pop has thousands of cards available to purchase.

There's several trading cards of Michael Jordan, Luis Robert, Nico Hoerner and there's a one of a kind Brett Favre collectable card priced at $500.

Are you thirsty? There's a cooler filled with bottles of drinks made in other parts of the world, including several flavors of Ramune, a Japanese carbonated soft drink.

Just want to relax and play a game of chess? Card Pop has a large chess board in the middle of the store for anybody to play.

Card Pop is at 1114 West Jefferson Street. It's right at the corner of Reed Street, just down the street from the Pizza Hut restaurant. Card Pop is open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Why Joliet? Why open on West Jefferson Street, Joliet Patch asked Taheny during Thursday afternoon's interview.

"I've been collecting a majority of my life," he said.

Taheny said that a group of local business partners encouraged him to open Card Pop, so that's what he did on June 1.

"They strongly felt the Joliet community has been missing a community gaming spot," Taheny said. "We did Card Pop with the intention of all cards, sports as well as Magic and Pokémon."

There's also Funko Pop! figures as well as pop culture collectables.

Why are there a bunch of gym shoes at the top of one of the shelves? That's because Card Pop also does sneakers on consignment, its founder said.

But if Magic, Pokémon or baseball cards are not your thing, then perhaps it's the exotic food that will lure you inside. After all, where else can you buy international and exotic snacks on West Jefferson Street?

Strawberry flavored Oreo cookies. Melon or peach flavored Kit Kats. Roasted chicken wing or pure tomato-flavor Frito-Lay chips. Smokey BBQ Cheetos.

Patch asked Card Pop's owner if a Frito-Lay delivery truck stops by.

That's not how it works, he revealed.

"They're not easy to secure, and it's definitely a supply and demand industry with the exotics," he said. "I go straight through a distributor."

As far as the collectable cards go, "Pokémon has been incredibly popular," Taheny said. "Magic has also been very popular, a close second. Baseball's also very popular with the baseball season going on."

Card Pop carries "a huge collection of sealed or wax cards," he said.

On Thursday afternoon, Card Pop had several customers of all ages and ethnic backgrounds coming and going throughout the store.

"Word is getting out," Taheny said. "We're set to announce our first event real soon, a kids trading day to bring their collectables and be able to trade with one another in a safe and structured environment."

Just last week, Joliet Patch published a feature story about a new Filipino grocery store called Mabuhay Filipino Market that opened in March at 1101 West Jefferson St.

In June, Jerk Flavors Jamaican Cuisine opened next door to the former Louis' Family Restaurant.

"I feel like a lot of little new businesses are opening up around here," remarked the founder of Card Pop. "It feels good."

To learn more, visit the Card Pop website.