'It Was A Massive Hit': Glen Burnie Pokémon Organizers Flip The Script On Card Shows

GLEN BURNIE, MD — It's not unusual at card shows to see sealed Pokémon cards at vendor booths, and it's even less of a shocker when they're resold at an exorbitant rate. But for the organizers behind Feel Good Gaming, it was something that needed to change.

Kevin Groves and Evan Lipshultz have run Feel Good Gaming over the last year from Glen Burnie, hosting community events centered around the Pokémon card show industry.

One of the negative aspects that caught their attention was the impact scalpers were having on residents attending the events.

The same card packs that could be bought at the local Walmart or Target at retail prices for as low as $15 were being bought in bulk and resold at five times their original price.

"It was just bad vibes," Groves told Patch. "If you're a parent walking around with your kid, your kid doesn't know the story of the Pokémon — the sealed product story. So when they ask to buy it, you're just gonna cave, but then you feel like crap as a parent."

"We're doing everything we can to have the most fun event we can for families, and this thing is kind of a problem," he said.

Their solution? Ban any sealed cards that are still in print at retail stores.

The move ruffled feathers and resulted in the loss of some vendors at first, but the positives have far outweighed the negatives, according to Groves.

Breathing New Life Into Marley Station Mall

The first card show event with the new rule in place was held at Glen Burnie's Marley Station Mall, and the big question was whether Feel Good Gaming put their brand in jeopardy — they did not.

"People absolutely loved it," Groves said. "They showed up in droves."

The arrival of thousands marked a milestone for a local mall that has seen a noticeable decline in foot traffic.

"We had a record-breaking day at Marley Station Mall, with the biggest event day in their history of the mall since 1987," Groves told Patch. "It was a massive hit."

The mall's previous record was in the ballpark of 3,500 people. Throughout the weekend, Groves said around 7,000 residents took part in the community event.

For many who attended the show, it was a reminder of what Marley Station Mall once was during the Christmas season after opening in the late 1980s.

The free show organized by Groves and Lipshultz not only included the card aspect for collectors, but also featured family-friendly activities geared to all ages.

Attendees could pick cards from a trading wall, get face paintings and take part in mall-wide scavenger hunts for badges and free movie nights.

Whether or not guests decided to buy an item from a vendor, everyone was guaranteed to leave the show with at least a Poké Buck, a form of currency that younger Pokémon fans can use to make purchases from vendors.

Groves told Patch that all of the events were sponsored by local businesses. One partnership with Gold's Gym included a scavenger hunt that encouraged participants to get in their daily steps.

Helping The Animal Shelter + Food Drive

Part of Feel Good Gaming's community initiative is working with the Howard County animal shelter and the Maryland Food Bank.

During the Marley Station Mall event, Groves and Lipshultz organized a canned food drive that handed out Poké Bucks for every donated can. Also included were raffle tickets for a rare Pokémon card.

The results of the drive were "epic," according to Groves, who said the endeavor raised more than 5,700 pounds of food.

"The Pokémon community came out and blew us away — it blew the Maryland Food Bank away," he said.

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And then there's PokéPets, a specialized card inspired by Pokémon to highlight pets that are still looking for their forever homes.

Similar to the traditional Pokémon cards, the PokéPet cards include a drawing of the featured animal from the animal shelter, their name, age, weight, and a little background for potential adopters.

The initial versions of the cards were packaged with the help of artificial intelligence but are now created by local artists. Each card includes the name of the creator.

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PokéPets was inspired by Lipshultz's love of dogs and desire to use his businesses to create a positive change in the community.

Groves said about 4,000 cards were distributed during the mall event, all featuring 20 different animals — dogs, cats, birds and gerbils, including some that were brought to the mall for meet-and-greets.

Since the launch of the cards, the animal shelter has seen a positive impact, with potential adopters arriving with their PokéPet cards in tow.

"That was a huge hit," Groves said, noting that at least two people were waiting at the animal shelter to adopt a pet after the event.

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By expanding the card show into a family-focused festival and spotlighting work that uplifts the community, Groves says it offers a model that the industry should replicate.

"We're here to disrupt the card space — really, the card show world, and I hope that other people see what we do and can start copying us 'cause they should," Groves said.

The latest Feel Good Games event is running at the Baltimore Convention Center as part of Harbor Fest until Aug. 9.

Residents can attend the events at 1 West Pratt St. in Baltimore from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

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