By Rusty Bradshaw
Mail | Twitter: @SunCitiesEditor

He wanted to be a journalist, then he was a teacher. Now Phillip White is following his passion.

White opened Sports.N.Cards at 11125 W. California Ave., Youngtown in June and is finding business to be brisk. Residents can check out the shop during a grand opening 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 16.

“I have collected cards since I was a kid and I always wanted a shop,” White said.

White is also an event photographer, but the COVID pandemic hit that endeavor hard. To help make ends meet he began grading collectible sports cards. Grading is important for collectors who want to know the value of their cards and showcase them. That eventually led to the card shop, but White continues to work with friends and other collectors on the grading branch of his business, SNCGrading.

White’s shop includes a wide variety of cards with different vendors contributing.

“We also have some sports memorabilia,” Whiet said. “We also have Pokemon items. This is still really big.”

White was a teacher at Independence High School, but left that profession because the pay was too low. He also taught a variety of courses online. Now he is looking forward to the card shop taking off.

“Summer is a slow season for cards, but we have a lot of people coming in soon,” he said.

White attends a number of sports card shows throughout the region. The business also has a website, SportsNCards.com, and collectors can find the granding branch of the business online at sncgrading.com.