Cooper Flagg’s Card Shop Opens to Huge Crowds in Maine

Cooper Flagg’s new card shop officially opened its doors in Bangor, Maine, and collectors were lining up hours before the first pack was sold. Flagg Trading Co. held its grand opening September 12 at 35 Main Street in downtown Bangor, drawing a long line of fans and collectors that stretched through the downtown area. According to an Instagram post following the event, organizers knew the opening was going to be something special when they received a text at 5 AM saying people were already waiting outside.

Some had actually arrived even earlier. The Portland Press Herald reported that the first fans began lining up around 3 AM, seven hours before the scheduled 10 AM opening. By later that morning, the line stretched from Main Street onto Cross Street and toward Columbia Street.

Flagg came outside before the doors opened, walking the line, shaking hands, giving high-fives and handing out packs of cards before taking part in a ribbon cutting. Once inside, he even spent time behind the register as customers made their way through the new shop.

The opening comes less than two weeks after CollectiblesNews.com first reported that Flagg was getting into the hobby business with a store of his own. As we reported on August 31, Flagg Trading Co. was being built around Cooper and his family’s longtime interest in collecting, with sports cards, Pokémon, One Piece and other collectibles expected to be part of the mix.

The grand opening showed just how much interest there was before the store had even completed its first day. Downtown Bangor said people traveled from both nearby communities and much farther away for the opening, calling it a one-of-a-kind day brought together by the Flagg family. Downtown Bangor also credited Fanatics, Pokémon, Topps and other brands and partners for helping support the launch.

For a card shop tied to one of the hottest young players in the hobby, the timing is hard to miss. Flagg’s rookie cards have been drawing enormous attention throughout 2026, including his one-of-one Rookie Debut Patch Autograph, which is currently being auctioned through Fanatics Collect. Now collectors can chase Flagg cards inside a store carrying his own name, just a short drive from where he grew up.

Based on the crowd that showed up for opening day, plenty of them were willing to make the trip.