NBA Player Mo Bamba to Open a New Card Shop Near the UT Campus in Austin
Fans can meet the former Longhorn during the Sept. 11 grand opening, which will include a ribbon-cutting and giveaways
Former Texas basketball and NBA player Mo Bamba is returning to Austin with a new cards and collectibles store across from the University of Texas campus. Mo Bamba Cards & Collectibles will open Friday, Sept. 11, at 2350 Guadalupe St. The store will carry sports cards, Pokémon and other trading card games, along with autographed memorabilia and collectibles.
Bamba played for the Longhorns during the 2017-18 season, earning Big 12 All-Defensive Team and All-Newcomer Team honors. He was selected sixth overall in the 2018 NBA draft.
“Austin is where a lot of things really started for me, so we were very intentional in selecting a location that was right across from UT and accessible to the students,” Bamba said in a recent news release.
Lounge seating, communal tables and a large TV wall will allow visitors to trade cards, open packs, play games and watch sporting events.
“I wanted to create the kind of card shop I’d actually want to hang out in — a place where you can come in looking for a specific card, rip a pack, watch a game, make a trade or just talk sports with people who are into the same things you are,” Bamba said.
The inventory will include basketball, football, baseball, soccer and hockey cards, as well as Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece and Magic: The Gathering.
Bamba’s basketball career and Ivorian American heritage are also represented throughout the store with custom artwork, autographed jerseys and memorabilia. An interactive mural will let visitors compare their reach with Bamba’s 7-foot-10 wingspan.
Grand opening event
“The artwork and displays are all connected to meaningful things in my life, but also designed to resonate with collectors,” Bamba said.
The shop will offer consignment and grading services, with staff available to help collectors understand a card’s rarity, market value and potential for professional grading. Monthly trade nights, live card breaks, watch parties and other in-store events are also planned.
Grand opening festivities begin at 10 a.m. Sept. 11 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Bamba. Guests will be able to meet him, explore the store and enter giveaways throughout the day.
The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 11 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. Regular hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily begin Sunday, Sept. 13.